- Quote: "It tends to promote the interests of a particular nation, especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty over its perceived homeland to create a nation-state."
An overview of sociological, anthropological, and political theories regarding the formation, maintenance, and contestation of nationalist identities and movements.
What is Nationalism?: An introduction to the concept of nationalism and its various interpretations.
Historical Roots of Nationalism: An exploration of the historical origins of nationalism, including its emergence in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Types of Nationalism: An overview of the various types and forms of nationalism, including civic, ethnic, religious, and cultural nationalism.
Nationalism and Identity: An examination of the relationship between nationalism and identity, including how nationalism can be used to shape and define group identity.
Nationalism and Modernity: An exploration of the link between nationalism and modernity, including how nationalism can be viewed as a reaction against modernization processes.
Pluralism and Nationalism: An analysis of the challenges and opportunities of nationalism in pluralistic societies, including the ways in which nationalism can both foster and hinder coexistence among diverse groups.
Multi-level Governance and Nationalism: An overview of how nationalism and multi-level governance can intersect and influence each other, including how subnational identities can challenge or contribute to national unity.
International Relations and Nationalism: A discussion of how nationalism interacts with international relations, including how nationalism can be both a source of cooperation and conflict among nations.
Political Economy and Nationalism: An analysis of the role of political economy in the development and persistence of nationalism, including how economic factors can shape nationalist movements and discourse.
Nationalism, Gender, and Sexuality: An examination of the relationship between nationalism and gender/sexuality, including the ways in which nationalist discourse can reinforce or challenge traditional gender norms.
Nationalism and Violence: An exploration of the link between nationalism and violence, including how nationalist rhetoric and ideology can contribute to conflict and violence.
Comparative Nationalisms: An overview of different nationalist movements and experiences across the world, including regional, historical, and cultural differences.
Primordialism: This theory posits that nationalism is an innate, natural, and ancient impulse that stems from deep-seated origins such as race, ethnicity, language, and religion.
Modernism: This theory posits that nationalism is a modern phenomenon that emerged as a result of industrialization, urbanization, and the decline of traditional communities.
Instrumentalism: This theory posits that nationalism is a tool used by political elites to achieve certain goals, such as power, influence, or resources.
Constructivism: This theory posits that nationalism is a social construct that is created and sustained through shared symbols, memories, and narratives.
Civic Nationalism: This theory posits that nationalism is based on shared political values and principles, such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, rather than on ties of blood, culture, or ethnicity.
Ethnic Nationalism: This theory posits that nationalism is based on shared ancestry, culture, language, and history, and that the nation should be defined by its ethnic identity.
- Quote: "It holds that each nation should govern itself, free from outside interference (self-determination), that a nation is a natural and ideal basis for a polity, and that the nation is the only rightful source of political power."
- Quote: "It further aims to build and maintain a single national identity, based on a combination of shared social characteristics such as culture, ethnicity, geographic location, language, politics, religion, traditions, and belief in a shared singular history."
- Quote: "Nationalism, therefore, seeks to preserve and foster a nation's traditional culture."
- Quote: "The two main divergent forms identified by scholars are ethnic nationalism and civic nationalism."
- Quote: "Beginning in the late 18th century, particularly with the French Revolution and the spread of the principle of popular sovereignty or self-determination, the idea that 'the people' should rule is developed by political theorists."
- Quote: "This view has since been rejected by most scholars, and nations are now viewed as socially constructed and historically contingent."
- Quote: "Modernization theory... adopts a constructivist approach and proposes that nationalism emerged due to processes of modernization, such as industrialization, urbanization, and mass education, which made national consciousness possible."
- Quote: "Proponents of this theory describe nations as 'imagined communities' and nationalism as an 'invented tradition' in which shared sentiment provides a form of collective identity and binds individuals together in political solidarity."
- Quote: "A third theory, ethnosymbolism explains nationalism as a product of symbols, myths, and traditions, and is associated with the work of Anthony D. Smith."
- Quote: "The moral value of nationalism, the relationship between nationalism and patriotism, and the compatibility of nationalism and cosmopolitanism are all subjects of philosophical debate."
- Quote: "Nationalism can be combined with diverse political goals and ideologies such as conservatism (national conservatism and right-wing populism) or socialism (left-wing nationalism)."
- Quote: "In practice, nationalism is seen as positive or negative depending on its ideology and outcomes."
- Quote: "Nationalism has been a feature of movements for freedom and justice, has been associated with cultural revivals, and encourages pride in national achievements."
- Quote: "It has also been used to legitimize racial, ethnic, and religious divisions, suppress or attack minorities, and undermine human rights and democratic traditions."
- Quote: "It tends to promote the interests of a particular nation, especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty over its perceived homeland to create a nation-state."
- Quote: "It further aims to build and maintain a single national identity, based on a combination of shared social characteristics such as culture, ethnicity, geographic location, language, politics (or the government), religion, traditions and belief in a shared singular history."
- Quote: "It holds that each nation should govern itself, free from outside interference (self-determination), that a nation is a natural and ideal basis for a polity, and that the nation is the only rightful source of political power."
- Quote: "Three main theories have been used to explain the emergence of nationalism: Primordialism (perennialism), Modernization theory, and Ethnosymbolism."
- Quote: "Nationalism, therefore, seeks to preserve and foster a nation's traditional culture."