The term "imagined community" is a concept used by political scientist Benedict Anderson to describe how people develop an identity as members of a nation, even though they may never have met each other or interacted directly. This sense of national belonging is based on shared values, beliefs and history, which are often reinforced through media, education and cultural institutions. The idea of an "imagined community" suggests that the bonds between people within a nation are not necessarily based on physical proximity or direct interaction, but rather on a collective imagination of what it means to be part of that group.