Nationalism and Coherence Flashcards
How is nationalism coherent in relation to their common footing?
All nationalists share a common footing - that the nation state is sole, legitimate unit of political rule - decisions made are in their best interests - not made by a supernational body such as the EU - e.g. Maurras favoured collective identity over individualism - also Rousseau claimed that the nation’s ‘general will’ is sovereign - influenced by liberals: influential to the future.
How is nationalism coherent in relation to its emotional characteristics?
Nationalism is highly emotional - all tranches subscribe to a series of passions and emotions - e.g. whether the protection of a threatened national language (Herder) or protection against an oppressive foreign leader (Mazzini) - a majority of nationalist ideas appeal to identity and heritage in some respect - therefore coherent.
How is nationalism incoherent regarding the view of the nation state?
The view of the nation state varies drastically - Rousseau (rational nationalism) favours ‘general will’ whereas Maurras favours militarism and theocracy (state and church are joined) - Maurras also advocated ‘Action Francaise’ - the idea that the nation should be free from ‘protestants, Jews, Freemasons and foreigners’ - Rousseau is therefore rational and Maurras is therefore highly emotional.
How is nationalism incoherent regarding liberal nationalists?
Liberal nationalists are concerned with the liberation of peoples and self-determination - aims to create a globe of cooperating nation states - e.g. Rousseau claimed that inhabitants should be equal citizens rather than subjects - aimed to have a nation founded on democracy of a ‘general will’ - contrary to Maurras.
How is nationalism incoherent regarding conservative nationalists?
Conservative nationalists, like conservatives, are based on tradition, order and pragmatism - they see the traditions and cultural values as reassuring and stabilising in a chaotic world - as a result tends to be more insular than liberal nationalism - e.g. von Herder and the ideas of ‘Volk’ in Treatise of the Origin of Language.
