Nationalism Flashcards
Nationalism
The belief that the nation should be the central unit of political organization, emphasizing the significance of the nation as the primary community. Nationalism takes various forms and is not a cohesive ideology.
Nations
Groups of people sharing common characteristics such as language, history, culture, or religion. The identification with a nation is the key categorization.
Self-determination
The ability of a nation to govern itself, based on the belief that the nation is the central form of political organization. Views on self-determination vary among different types of nationalists.
Nation-state
: A political entity where a group of people, considering themselves a nation, rules in their own sovereign territory. Often linked to the concept of self-determination and is the prevalent form of political organization in many countries.
Culturalism
The idea that people have a deep emotional tie to their nation, emphasizing cultural aspects, shared stories, and folktales. Differs from civic nationalism, which is more rational and reason-based.
Racialism
The belief that a person’s race is a significant aspect of their character, leading to the idea of racial hierarchy and support for policies preserving racial distinctions.
Internationalism
The belief in looking beyond traditional national boundaries for the greater good, with two main types: liberal internationalism and socialist internationalism.
Human Nature
Nationalists have varied views on human nature, with common themes including the belief that humans naturally wish to be united around common traits.
State
Nationalists’ perspectives on the state range from viewing it as an aspirational body for nations to unite, a focal point of unity and trust, or a means of dominance and loyalty.
Society
Nationalists define society in terms of ethnic or cultural traits, considering it a series of mono-cultural segments held together by widely held ideas and beliefs.
Economy
Nationalism is a cross-cutting doctrine with no distinct economic view. Extreme nationalists may use economic planning, while conservative nationalists may be skeptical of international organizations owning a country’s economic capital.
Liberal Nationalism
Liberal nationalism applies the principle of individualism to nations, emphasizing the rights and freedoms of individuals and nations. It advocates for popular self-government, opposes foreign domination, and supports the idea of independent nation-states.
Liberal Nationalism - Principles
Principles:
Freedom: Liberal nationalists believe in the liberty and rights of nations.
Self-determination: The right of nations to rule themselves and not be ruled by another state.
Constitutionalism and Representation: Support for principles of constitutionalism and representation in government.
Liberal Nationalism - Goals
Goals:
World of Independent Nation-States: The ultimate aim is to build a world composed of independent nation-states.
National Interdependence: Promote national interdependence through free trade to avoid economic incentives for war.
Conservative Nationalism
Conservative nationalism emerged as a response to concerns about the potential threat of liberal nationalism to the existing world order. It focuses on maintaining social order, preserving existing structures, and fostering national unity through pride in one’s country.
Conservative Nationalism - Characteristics
Characteristics:
Organic Society: Applies the principle of an organic society to nations, viewing them as naturally emerging among those who want to live with similar others.
Emphasis on Tradition: Emphasizes tradition, history, and a nostalgic, backward-looking approach.
Exclusiveness: Tends to be exclusive, requiring time to feel a part of the nation.
Conservative Nationalism - Concerns
Concerns:
Cultural Diversity: Belief that cultural diversity leads to instability, and stable societies are based on shared values.
Supranationalism: Reservations about supranational bodies like the EU, which may threaten national identity.
Anti-colonial, Post-colonial Nationalism
Anti-colonial nationalism questions foreign dominance, while post-colonial nationalism emerges after achieving independence. It turns away from Western ideas towards alternatives like socialism.
Anti-colonial, Post-colonial Nationalism - Mahatma Gandhi
Notable Figure: Mahatma Gandhi - Symbol of the anti-colonial movement in India, advocating non-violent resistance against British rule.
Expansionist Nationalism
Linked to chauvinism and the belief in the superiority of a group. It suggests that certain nations are naturally superior and have the right to dominate others through invasion and territorial expansion.
Expansionist Nationalism - Characteristics
Characteristics:
Linked to Racialism: Membership based on race, making it impossible to join.
Militaristic: Strongly militaristic, linking national glory to a powerful military.
Integral Nationalism: Emotional, encourages extreme loyalty to the nation, even above family.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Key Ideas:
General Will: Government based on the indivisible collective will of the community, advocating for the right of nations to govern themselves.
Civic Nationalism: Legitimacy of the state through the active participation of its citizens.
Father of Modern Liberal Nationalism: Advocated for government authority derived from the collective will of the people and the idea of the ‘general will.’
Johann Gottfried von Herder
Key Ideas:
Cultural Nationalism: Emphasized the uniqueness of each nation’s cultural character.
Volk (People): Identified as the root of national culture and special nature (volksgeist).
Culturalism: Rejected rational forms of nationalism, promoting the understanding of distinctive qualities through culture, customs, languages, folklore, and shared history.
Charles Maurras
Key Ideas:
Integral Nationalism: Intensely emotional nationalism urging individuals to submerge themselves into their nation.
Militarism: Encouraged nations to adopt a strong military ethos.
Influence on Fascist Ideas: Supported a totalitarian state with unquestioning loyalty to the nation.
Giuseppe Mazzini
Key Ideas:
Nationhood: Believed humans could express themselves only through their nation, and freedom depended on the creation of one’s own nation-state.
‘Action’: Rejected intellectualism and rationalism, emphasized the importance of ‘thought and action.’
Italian Unification: Associated with the cause of Italian unification, considered nationalism the most important cause.
Marcus Garvey
Key Ideas:
Black Pride: Encouraged African people to be proud of their race and find beauty in their kind.
Pan-Africanism: Believed African people worldwide were one people, advocating for unity and overcoming cultural and ethnic differences.
Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA): Founded by Garvey, associated with black nationalism, and promoted the creation of a United States of Africa.
Core Ideas of Nationalism
Key Components:
Nations: Communities based on shared characteristics like language, culture, religion, geography, and history.
Self-determination: The right of a nation to choose its own government, often leading to independence and autonomy.
Nation-state: A nation governing itself on its sovereign territory, connecting national identity with statehood.
Culturalism: Society based on shared cultural values and ethnicity, preserving distinctive culture, religion, or language.
Racialism: Belief in race-specific qualities, using race markers to determine nationhood.
Internationalism: Rejects separation by borders, advocating global unification based on shared desires, ideas, and values.
Types of Nationalism
Liberal Nationalism:
Emerged from Enlightenment, supports self-determination beyond the individual.
Progressive, inclusive, and rational; respects sovereignty and promotes cooperation.
Conservative Nationalism:
Focuses on shared culture, history, and tradition.
Idealizes the past, exclusive, distrusts supranational bodies, and prioritizes the nation-state.
Postcolonial Nationalism:
Emerges post-colonization, can be inclusive (civic nationalism) or exclusive (culturalism).
Seeks improvement, rejects colonial rule, diverse governance models.
Expansionist Nationalism:
Radical version of conservative nationalism, chauvinistic and aggressive.
Racial elements, rejects sovereignty of other nations, often regressive and relies on negative integration.
Key Thinkers of Nationalism
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778):
General Will: Nations have a collective spirit and the right to self-governance.
Civic Nationalism: State legitimacy through citizen participation.
Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–1872):
Nationhood: Human freedom depends on creating one’s own nation-state.
‘Action’: Rejection of intellectualism, emphasis on thought followed by action.
Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744–1803):
Cultural Nationalism: Each nation is unique, identified by language and cultural roots.
Volkgeist: Spirit of a nation rooted in its people (Volk).
Charles Maurras (1868-1952):
Integral Nationalism: Individuals submerge into their nation, pro-militarism.
Regressive Ideology: Anti-democracy, anti-individualism, pro-hereditary monarchy.
Marcus Garvey (1887–1940):
Black Pride: Encouraged pride in black race and heritage.
Pan-Africanism: Advocated unity, sought to create a new state for black people.
