Nationalism Flashcards
(section A) Explain the importance of national sovereignty in Nationalism
Self-determination
Patriotism
National consciousness (culturalism, language, history, romantic)
Post-colonial / anti-colonial nationalism
Explain the importance of the role of history in Nationalism
Sovereignty / self-determination
Culturalism
Organic community
Patriotism
‘Nationalism has had a large impact on global politics’. Discuss
YES:
✓ Political
✓ Economic
✓ Social
NO:
☓ Conservatism
☓ Liberalism
☓ Socialism
Political
Hungary:
- Rise of Fidesz Party + leader = Viktor Orban
- Orban been in power since 2010 + promote policies that promote Hungarian nationalism (e.g. crackdown on immigration)
- 2018 = Fidesz won 2/3 majority in Hungarian Parliament - allowed Orban to push through new constitution emphasising Hungary’s Christian heritage (restricted rights of asylum seekers)
- Treatment of immigrants
- Criticism - especially surrounding treatment of Roma population - nationalists view Roma as threat to Hungarian culture + identity & reports of discrimination + violence
- 2011 = passed law criminalising homelessness (targeted Roma, many live in poverty) - sparked protests + criticisms from human rights organisations
– Anti-EU sentiment = 2018 = govt launched campaign “Stop Brussels” - aimed to rally support for Hungary’s sovereignty
– Protecting Hungarian traditions = govt established Hungarian Cultural Heritage Fund (supports preservation of historic monuments)
– Protect Hungarian institutions (e.g. Hungarian Academy of Science, judiciary + media)
– Revisionist approach to history (e.g. more favourable interp of Hungary’s role in WW1)
US:
– Immigration –> Literacy Act (1917), Emergency Quota Act (1921), National Origins Act (1924), Immigration Act (1929)
– Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban’
– Foreign policy - leader of free world - containment post-WW2
– Monroe Doctrine (1823)
– Manifest Destiny
– Isolationism
– Cold War –> Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Eisenhower Doctrine, war (Vietnam, Korea)
– War on Terror –> after 9/11 attacks - terrorism posed threat to country - Iraq + Afghanistan
Economic impact
1) Protectionism = Hungary introduced tax on foreign-owned retail chains (2014) - protect local businesses - remained until 2020
2) Favour domestic companies = 2015 = Hungarian company won €323m contract to build a railway line despite a competing bid from a Chinese company for €50m cheaper
3) Limit foreign investment = 2018 = announced wouldn’t approve any new license for foreign-owned media outlets
4) Currency devaluation = 2013 = govt devalued Hungarian forint by 20% to boost exports (make Hungarian goods cheaper)
- US:
1) Tariffs (e.g. China, Mexico, Canada)
2) Buy American policies = Buy American Act (1933) - US govt favour domestically produced goods. Biden = proposed Buy American Plan
3) Investment restrictions = 2018 = Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernisation Act (FIRRMA) - expanded CFIUS’s powers to review foreign investment transactions
4) Tax reform (lower corporate tax - companies to bring profits back to US)
5) Immigration = Trump - limit H-1B visas to highly skilled workers - argued took jobs from American workers
Social
1) Strengthen national identity (promote Hungarian culture, language, history)
2) Xenophobia + discrimination = rise in anti-Semitism, anti-Roma and anti-Muslim sentiment
3) Social polarisation = different versions of what it means to be a “true” Hungarian
4) Strained international relations = issues with other EU states - migration + Rule of Law
5) Promote national symbols
- US:
1) Immigration = Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) (prohibited Chinese labourers immigrating to US), Trump’s travel Muslim ban
2) LGBTQ+ = North Carolina’s bathroom law
- Ted Cruz = trans rights “lunacy”
- Ron DeSantis = Don’t Say Gay Bill
- Ron DeSantis = “proud” to be pro-life and sign 6 week abortion bill
3) Healthcare = universal healthcare would be a form of socialism that threatens capitalism society that’s fundamental to American identity - oppose Obamacare
4) Trade (protect domestic industries) = Trump (2018) = tariffs on steel + aluminium imports
5) Cultural identity = patriotic symbols –> American flag, national anthem
– English-only movement = advocates English to be only official language in US
– Confederate flag = seen as white supremacist symbol
– Belief in American exceptionalism
Conservatism
- Conservative movements = Tea Party (2009-response to Obama’s policies), Christian right (1970s+80s), and Reagan Revolution
– Reps Controlled Senate = 2015-2021
– Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, Nixon, Trump etc.
– Fox News, Breitbart News, and the Daily Caller
– Introduction of Fox News - 0.4 and 0.7 percentage points for Reps in towns that broadcast Fox
– Trump = Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)
– Reagan:
–> Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA) (1981) = reduced individual tax rates by 25% over 3 years, lowered maximum capital gains tax rate from 28% –> 20%, and increased the depreciation allowance for businesses
– Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act
(TEFRA) (1982) = closed some tax loopholes and increased the Social Security payroll tax, but it also provided some tax relief by indexing tax brackets to inflation and increasing the standard deduction
– Tax Reform Act (1986) = simplified the tax code by eliminating many deductions and exemptions, and lowered the top marginal tax rate from 50% –> 28%
– 1982: Reagan - signed the Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act, (deregulated the savings and loan industry)
– The Taft Court (1921-1930) = Taft
– Burger Court (1969-1986) = Nixon
– Rehnquist Court (1986-2005) = Reagan and H.W. Bush
– Roberts Court (2005-present) = W. Bush
=
- Promote free-market capitalism + neoliberalism
- Economic Growth - US - economic growth since adopting free-market capitalism
– GDP increased = 2.3% per year since 1947 (average)
[a] Tax cuts - incentive
– Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of (2017)
[b] Trade liberalization = North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
- Deregulation:
– 2004: George W. Bush - SEC Regulatory Accountability Act
– Bush = Energy Policy Act (2005) = aimed to increase domestic production of oil, gas, and nuclear power
- Oppose labour unions
– 1981: Reagan = fired over 11,000 air traffic controllers who went on strike
– Calvin Coolidge = “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime”
=
– The Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA) (1996) = defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman
– No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (2001) = required schools to teach students about the history and principles of American democracy, including patriotism, civic responsibility, and the values of the founding fathers
– National Day of Prayer (established 1952) = encourages Americans to pray for the nation and its leaders - reinforces the importance of religion in American society and promotes traditional values
– The Hyde Amendment (1976) = prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or when mother is endangered
– Trump’s transgender military ban (2019)
– North Carolina’s HB2 (2016) =requires individuals to use public restrooms that correspond with the sex on their birth certificate
– Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) (1986) = prohibits the federal govt from creating a national registry of firearms + protects the rights of law-abiding citizens to transport firearms across state lines
– Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) of 2005 shields firearms manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits brought by victims of gun violence
Poland:
Rise of the Law and Justice (PiS) Party
[a] Populist Appeal
- PiS has been able to tap into the growing sense of populism and nationalism in Poland
- Has successfully appealed to voters who feel left behind by the political establishment and who are looking for a party that will prioritize their interests
[b] Anti-Establishment Rhetoric
- disillusioned with traditional political parties
- Also been able to capitalize on the perceived corruption and cronyism of the previous govt
[c] Social Conservatism
- PiS has been able to mobilize conservative voters by promoting socially conservative policies, such as opposing same-sex marriage and abortion
- These policies have helped the party to win support from more traditional and religiously conservative voters
[d] Economic Policies
- PiS has also focused on economic policies that appeal to working-class voters, such as increasing the minimum wage and introducing new social welfare programs
- Have helped the party to win support from voters who feel left behind by Poland’s economic transformation
[e] Strong Leadership
- strong and charismatic leader = Jarosław Kaczyński,
- The History of Poland**
- Faced numerous challenges throughout its history, including war, occupation, and political upheaval
- Many Poles take pride in their history and culture, and some view conservatism as a way to preserve these values
- Social Composition
- Catholic - traditional values
- Economic Changes
– Change since fall of communism in 1989
– Centrally planned economy –> market-oriented one = rapid growth in recent years
- While these changes have brought many benefits, they have also led to social and economic inequalities that have contributed to the rise of populist and conservative movements
=
[a] Privatization
[b] Deregulation (e.g. telecommunications, energy, + transport)
[c] Tax reform - simplifies tax code
[d] Trade liberalization
[e] Financial sector reform - liberalized financial sector = greater foreign investment
– 2018 govt reduced budget for National Science Centre by 35%
– 2020 = reduce spending on public media, including the Polish public broadcaster, TVP, which has been criticized for being biased in favour of the ruling party
– 2021 = proposed cuts to country’s health care budget
– 2019 = PiS introduced new tax-free income threshold of PLN 22,000 per year (approximately $5,800)
– 2020 = PiS reduced the VAT on menstrual products from 23% –> 8%
– 2019 = deduction for each child increased from PLN 1,452 –> PLN 2,360.
– Tax cuts for Polish workers = 2019: exempted workers under the age of 26 from paying income tax
=
– “Family 500+” Program (2016) = provides financial assistance to families with children - aim = encourage families to have more children and to support traditional family structures - popular
– National Family Council (2007) = promote family values
– 2018: govt passed a law that criminalizes public defamation of the “good name of Poland” and the “Polish nation”
- Promoting idea of a “strong Poland” that is able to defend itself against external threats
– “LGBT-free zones”
– Ban on same-sex marriage
– Same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt children
– 2019, a children’s book about a same-sex relationship was removed from a school library after a complaint from a parent
- Govt has also sought to restrict access to LGBT content online
To what extent do Nationalists agree on the economy?
YES:
✓ Freedom
✓ Role of state - employment
✓
NO:
☓ Other nations (trading)
☓ Free market
☓ Emphasis on economy
Partially - international cooperation
Employment
- Hungarian Government - contracts - €323m - build infrastructure - Chinese - €50m cheaper
- Buy American Act (1933)
- Biden’s ‘Buy American Plan’
Other nations (trading)
- Liberal - free trade - assume nations want to cooperate and work with each other
- Expansionist nationalists reject - depending on other countries - weakness + financial crashes = other nations threats, support autarky (being economically self-sufficient), reject co-operation
- Cons only will if it benefits them and doesn’t interfere with their national sovereignty - likely not to and impose tariffs
– Tariffs = Mexico, Canada and China
– Trump = 2018 tariffs on steel + aluminium imports
– Expansionist nationalists
Free market
- Liberal + Cons nationalism favours free market
– NAFTA, CPTPP, US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (2018)
- Post-colonial nationalism believe it’s been based on economic exploitation of weak economies by strong capitalist ones
- Reject ‘Western values’
- Sceptical of free-market
– e.g. Stalin’s 5 Point Plan - nationalise economy
– Black-nationalists urge for black Africa nations to economically form a United ‘bloc’ to demonstrate superiority to western free-market economy
Emphasis on economy
- Some
‘Nationalism has had a large impact on Welsh politics’. Discuss.
YES:
✓ Policy
✓ Electoral success
✓ Governance
NO:
☓ Conservatism
☓ Socialism
☓ Liberalism
Policy
– Welsh Language Act (1993) = Welsh + English should be treated equally
– Calls to have this integrated in Equality Act (2010)
- Future policy:
– Full electrification of rail system by 2030
– Expand seats in Senedd to 96
– 1m Welsh speakers by 2050
Electoral success
– 1966 = Plaid Cymru - Gwynfor Evans (pres) won in Carmarthen by-election
– 1992 = 4/40 constituencies
– 1970s = Labour proposed devolution but was rejected (1979 = 79%)
– Thatcherism
– 1997 referendum = 50% in favour of devolution (success for Lab), won 34/40 seats of Wales
– Plaid Cymru = 4
– Conservatives = 0
– 1st Assembly election (1999):
–> Labour = 28 seats
–> Plaid = 17
–> Cons = 9
–> Lib Dems = 6
– 2019 = Plaid held on to all 4 seats it won in 2017
– 2021 = 20.5% (from 20.7% in 2016)
Governance
– Devolution - 1997 - creation of Welsh Boards of Education and Health
– Plaid Cymru
– Civic Welsh Nationalism movement today pushes for Welsh language
– Former Plaid Counsellor Simon Brook = “Nationalism was slain in Wales by Liberalism, rather than Conservatism… the Welsh nation was murdered by its own left wing”
– (socialism in nationalism) Welsh Nationalist Saunders Lewis = “Restoring the Welsh Language in Wales is nothing less than a revolution” (but socialists generally reject nationalism)
– From 1981 - Plaid’s constitution committed to “community socialism” - Welsh concept emphasising focus on local politics
– Plaid entered a formal coalition with Lab in 2021
Conservatism
– Tory Welsh secretary - Nicholas Edwards - wanted to introduce Welsh language channel S4C. Division - pro-Welsh Conservatives & English-centric colleagues didn’t support
- Made Torys realise importance of supporting Welsh language - poured millions into supporting Welsh language
- 2000s = Cons policy differs from Welsh govt policy
– England - grammar school reintroduction
– Different tuition fees (£9,250 (w) v £9,000 (e))
– Prescription charges in England, Wales it’s free
=
- Devolution has seen Cons perform better
– 2011 = 14 seats
– 2016 = 11 seats
– 2021 = 16 seats
– 1918-2019 = 29 elections in UK –> 13 Cons, 11 Labour, 4 national/coalition
– 2019 = best result since 1983 = 14 seats (6 seats from Labour & only Lib Dem seat)
– 2021 = 25.6% vote
=
– Policies of Westminster in 1980s led to calls for devolution
– The powers of the Welsh Office (1964) = showed it just executed English law (Thatcher)
– May = Wales Act (2017) = reserved powers –> conferred powers (greater control = tourism, transport, culture)
Socialism
– Attlee - nationalisation
- NHS Act (1946)
- Nationalisation under Attlee = Coal Industry Nationalisation Act (1946), Transport Act (1947), Electricity Act (1947) + Gas Act (1948), nationalised 1/5 of economy - unemployment reduced to 2.5%
– Under Carwyn Jones (2009) - drift to right - implemented Tory austerity policies - increased privatisation - Arriva trains
– Mark Drakeford = Transport for Wales Act (1921) (nationalised trains)
– Welsh Labour setting the maximum level of council tax premiums on second homes at 300% from April 2023
=
- Nationalisation of coal mining was supported
– Support reached peak - GE of 1966 = 61% vote
– Labour led Welsh Assembly for all 5 terms
– 2019 = 22/40 seats
– 2021 = 30/60 with 38% (up from 33.1% in 2016)
– Arguably success less so - forced into coalitions (less than 30)- Labour-Plaid ‘agreement’ despite majority in 2021
=
1922 = Labour - unbroken dominance in Welsh politics
– 2003 = Rhodri Morgan (First Minister) = government was creating “clear red water” between it and Blair’s New Labour
–> Proponents of Clear Red Water doctrine desired abandonment of privatisation
–> Welsh Labour should promote partnership between government, employers + unions
Liberalism
– DLG = Liberal Reforms = National Insurance Act (1911), Pensions Act (1908)
– Education Secretary - Kirsty Williams - plan to raise standards + reduce attainment gap - 2022 curriculum. 200+ schools involved in developing 6 different curriculum areas
=
– 1945-1980
– 1945 - Clement Davies - party survived Tory-Labour post-WW2 dominance
– 1945 = Liberals 7 MPs
– 1966 = 1 MP
– Devolution in 1999 didn’t increase popularity of Liberals, but dominance of Labour
– 1999 = 6 Welsh Assembly seats
– 2000 = formed coalition govt with Labour
– 2017 = 1 seat in Senedd
– 2021 = 4.6% (2016 = 7.1% vote)
=
– Cons-Lib coalition 2010 –> Welsh Lib Dems influential in implementing Silk Commission (further devolution - e.g. tax varying powers, legislation for borrowing)
– Blair’s New Labour - deliver 1997 devolution referendum
– Reduction to 1 AM in 2016 reveals extent of control of governance
To what extent do nationalists agree over the principle of self-determination?
YES:
✓ Sovereignty
✓ Patriotism
✓ Role of the state - pol, econ, soc (Hungary + US)
NO:
☓ Rational v romantic (rational v thinking u have a superior culture - romantic - culturalism)
☓ Expansionist nationalism
☓ Internationalism (chauvinism..)
Internationalism
- Imperialism = extending the rule of an Empire over foreign countries. ‘Imperial rule’
- Colonialism = settlement of a foreign country via an imperial power causing the separation of the indigenous population from their land
– e.g. Native Americans
– British Empire - 1922 = 1/4, 450 million people
Expansionist nationalism
- No believe in equality of nations / the right to self-determination
- Linked to chauvinism (a belief that one’s nation is superior to others)
- Illogical fear of minorities - e.g. Nazis and Jews
– North Korea = illogical fear of outsiders and other nations; even South Korea
– The ‘scramble for Africa’- one aim of the colonising European nations was to ‘civilise’ the African nations.
– 1914 = 90% Africa had been colonised by European powers
To what extent is nationalism progressive?
YES:
✓ Self-determination
✓ Patriotism
✓ Identity (identity politics, black nationalism, Locke - ppl oppressed - Americans)
✓ Rational
NO:
☓ Expansionist nationalism
☓ Nativism
☓ Xenophobia (Maurras, global e.g.)
☓ Romantic
‘Nationalism is mainly aggressive and expansionist’. Discuss
YES:
✓ Expansionist nationalism
✓ Imperialism + colonialism
✓ Xenophobia
✓ Nativism
NO:
☓ Patriotism
☓ Self-determination + sovereignty
☓ Rational
To what extent is nationalism a single doctrine?
YES:
✓ Patriotism
✓ National consciousness
✓ Role of the state
NO:
☓ Rational v romantic
☓ Self-determination v chauvinism
☓ Inclusive v exclusive (+ nativism)
To what extent does nationalism divide rather than unite societies?
YES:
✓ Nativism
✓ Romantic - culturalism - exclusive
✓ Xenophobia, chauvinism, expansionist
NO:
☓ Rational
☓ Patriotism
☓ Self-determination
‘Nationalism is an ideology based on emotion and instinct rather than rational thought.’ Discuss
YES:
✓ Romantic
✓ Xenophobia / nativism
✓ Patriotism
NO:
☓ Civic nationalism
☓ Rational
☓ Self-determination
‘Nationalism is more to do with culture than race’. Discuss
YES:
✓ Culturalism / romantic
✓ Rational - inclusive
✓ Patriotism
NO:
☓ Black nationalism
☓ Xenophobia / expansionist
☓ Nativism
‘The main purpose of nationalism is the creation of the nation-state’. Discuss
YES:
✓ Self-determination
✓ Patriotism
✓ National consciousness
NO:
☓ Nativism
☓ Chauvinism, expansionist nationalism (don’t believe in creation of nation-states for smaller, ‘weaker’ nations)
☓ Imperialism / colonial nationalism ?
‘Nationalism is irrelevant in today’s society’. Discuss
YES:
✓
✓
✓
NO:
☓
☓
☓
same as global question or diff? - does it have to say ‘global region?’
‘Nationalism is more to do with politics than culture’. Discuss
YES:
✓ Patriotism
✓ Self-determination
✓ Role of the state (pol, soc, econ)
✓ Civic nationalism
✓ Internationalism
NO:
☓ Culturalism
☓ Romantic - language, history, ethnicity etc.
☓ Nativism
(less about political participation more to do with having a shared culture)
☓ Xenophobia, chauv, exp, imperial + colonial
