- 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."
The examination of how national identity is constructed and how it interacts with political structures and processes.
Definition and Origins of Nationalism: Understanding the definition and origins of nationalism is crucial to starting to learn about this topic. Nationalism refers to the strong belief in one's nation-state and its interests, often involving a sense of loyalty and pride in one's nation.
Early Theories of Nationalism: The first attempts to explain nationalism as a political force can be traced back to the 18th and 19th century. Understanding these early theories of nationalism is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
Nationalism and Nation-States: Nationalism is closely linked with the concept of nation-states, which are political entities made up of a nation of people with a shared cultural, linguistic, or ethnic identity.
Nationalism and Identity: Nationalism involves a sense of identity and belonging, often centered around shared values, symbols, and language. Understanding the role of identity in nationalism is important.
Types of Nationalism: There are several types of nationalism, including liberal, conservative, expansionist, and revolutionary. Understanding these types is essential to learning about nationalism.
Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict: Nationalism has played a significant role in ethnic conflicts throughout history. Understanding the relationship between nationalism and ethnic conflict is essential to understanding the topic.
Nationalism and Globalization: Nationalism and globalization are often seen as opposing forces. Understanding the relationship between these two forces is essential to understanding the current political landscape.
Nationalism and Populism: Nationalism and populism have become increasingly intertwined in recent years. Understanding the relationship between these two forces is essential to understanding contemporary politics.
Nationalism and Colonialism: Nationalism played a significant role in the struggles against colonialism in the mid-20th century. Understanding the relationship between nationalism and colonialism is important for understanding the history of nationalism.
Nationalism and Patriotism: There is often a fine line between nationalism and patriotism, which is why it is important to understand the differences between these two concepts.
Nationalism and Democracy: Nationalism is often seen as a challenge to democracy. Understanding the relationship between nationalism and democracy is essential to understanding the social and political implications of nationalism.
Nationalism and Multiculturalism: Nationalism often involves a sense of cultural homogeneity. Understanding the relationship between nationalism and multiculturalism is essential for understanding contemporary debates about immigration and integration.
Nationalism and Religion: Religion has played a significant role in nationalism throughout history. Understanding the relationship between nationalism and religion is essential for understanding the contemporary political landscape.
Nationalism and Gender: Gender has often been excluded from discussions of nationalism. Understanding the role of gender in nationalism is essential for understanding contemporary political movements.
Nationalism and Social Movements: Nationalism has often been a driving force behind social movements. Understanding the relationship between nationalism and social movements is essential for understanding the history and present of nationalism.
Civic Nationalism: Civic nationalism views national identity as an identity based on shared values, rather than ancestral, racial or ethnic backgrounds. A nation is viewed as a political community where citizens have equal rights and responsibilities towards each other.
Ethnic Nationalism: Ethnic nationalism is based on the idea that the nation is formed on the basis of a shared ethnic, racial, or linguistic identity. It views the nation as a community based on common ancestry, history and cultural traditions.
Religious Nationalism: Religious nationalism is the idea that the nation-state is based on a shared religious identity or tradition. It holds that religious beliefs, values and practices form the foundation of the nation.
Cultural Nationalism: Cultural nationalism emphasizes the importance of a shared cultural identity in maintaining a cohesive nation. It focuses on promoting and preserving national culture, heritage, and traditions.
Territorial Nationalism: Territorial nationalism is based on the idea that the nation-state is defined by a particular geographical region. This type of nationalism emphasizes the importance of maintaining national borders, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Pan-Nationalism: Pan-nationalism is the idea that nations should transcend their regional or geographic differences and come together as a unified entity based on a shared history or culture. It envisions a world where nations are united by shared interests and values.
Economic Nationalism: Economic nationalism is the idea that the nation-state should prioritize its own economic interests over those of other nations. This includes protecting domestic industries, promoting exports, and reducing imports.
Political Nationalism: Political nationalism is the idea that the nation-state should have a strong centralized government that only represents the interests of the nation, as opposed to individual or regional interests.
Expansionist Nationalism: Expansionist nationalism is the idea that the nation-state should expand its territory and influence beyond its current borders. This type of nationalism often justifies military aggression and territorial conquest as a means of achieving national goals.
- 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."