WEEK 3 - Nations and Nationalism

Question 1

What’s the Latin for Nationalism?

Answer 1

From Latin: Nasci

‘To be born’

Question 2

What’s the definition of Nationalism?

Answer 2

People with a (desired) homeland

which may not coincide with state borders

Question 3

Expressions of the Nation?

Answer 3

-Cultural
- Political
- Psychological
- Emotional
and Potentially dangerous (Mine’s better than yours)
e.g. Yugoslav, civil war and how rape used legitimately (They carry Serbian seed so they have to be Serbian)

The UK is an multi-national state

Question 4

What is Anthony Smith’s view on ‘how old is “The nation”’?

Answer 4

How old do you want it to be?

Nations are embedded with pre-modern ethnic tie, memories and heritages (Ancient thing)

Question 5

What is Ernest Gellner’s view on ‘how old is “The Nation”’?

Answer 5

It's a recent concept as its a product of modern concepts.
i.e:
- Early Industrialism
- Social Mobility
- Need for Mass Literacy
- Public Education
etc.

Question 6

What is the view of the nation of as a natural entity?

Answer 6

• Nations are natural and organic entities with ancient roots (Herder)
  i. e: Bloodlines. In extreme forms can exclude people and even persecute for being different
• Distinction between ‘Cultural Nations’ & ‘Political Nations’ (Meinecke)
• Due to modernisation and industrialisation (Gellner)

Question 7

What is the view of the state as a constructed entity?

Answer 7

-Eric Hobsbawm: The Invention of Tradition (1983)
Many “traditions” which “appear or claim to be old are
often quite recent in origin and sometimes invented.

• Benedict Anderson: Imagined Communities (1983)
  Nations held together by an imagined view
• Karl Marx: Nationalism as an invention of the ruling class

Question 8

What’s the view on the constructed U.S Nationhood?

Answer 8

Obama:
‘Unless you’re native american you came from someplace else’

i.e: Melting pot. Making American nationalism not exclusive

Question 9

What is Einstein’s view on Nationalism?

Answer 9

‘Nationalism is an infantile disease, its the measles of mankind’

Question 10

How can you value Nationalism/ How can it be seen?

Answer 10

1) A liberating force: Independence and self determination of nations
2) Irrational and Reactionary: Creating hostility, tool of manipulation

Question 11

What are the different types of Nationalism?

Answer 11

Liberal Nationalism
Conservative Nationalism
Expansionist Nationalism

Question 12

What is Liberal Nationalism?

Answer 12

• Principle of National Self-determination
• Defence of Liberal Democracy
• Respect mutual sovereignty

Basically, the nation always ends up a state.
(Woodrow Wilson’s 13 point plan)

Question 13

What are the criticisms of Liberal Nationalism?

Answer 13

• Naive and Romantic
• Practical Issues

Since, nation always ends up with states. Could lead to ethnic cleansing if dif. nations in that state

Question 14

What is Conservative Nationalism?

Answer 14

• Nation is a natural and close-knit entity
• Traditionalism
• Patriotism

Question 15

What’s the criticisms of Conservative Nationalism?

Answer 15

-Nationalism as a tool of the
ruling class
- Fuelling intolerance and
xenophobia

Question 16

What is Expansionist Nationalism?

Answer 16

-Aggressive, Militaristic and Expansionist

• Inconsistent with ideas of
  equality and self
  determination

-Political Extremism