Nationalism

1
Nationalism
2
The nation

• The nation is the central principle of political
  organisation.
• The basis for identity can be broad and made up
  of c combination of a variety of factors such as
  language, history, ethnicity etc
• There can be conflicting views on what
  constitutes the basis for national identity.
  Primordial nationalists argue on basis common
  descent, common cultural bonds. However, civic
  nationalists accepting of diverse ethnic
  backgrounds argue on basis of civic
  consciousness- th willingness to share common
  values e.g. liberal democratic values- here a
  line is drawn separating the private sphere from
  the public.
• Nationalism is voluntarist.

3
Organic community

• Humankind is divided into a collection of
  nations, each possessing a distinctive character
  and separate identity.
• National loyalties and ties are found in all
  societies and endure over time.
• Primordialists argue that nations are rooted in
  shared culture, historical past. Anthony Smith
  in 1986 argued that there was continuity between
  modern nations and pre modern ethnic
  communities.
• Situationalist theorists argue that nation
  identity is response to changing situations and
  historical circumstances, seeing a link between
  the emergence of the modern nation state and
  urbanisation/industrialisation. Even so, the
  situationalist Gellner argues that national
  community is deeprooted

4
Self determination

• The notion of popular sovereignty as expressed in
  the general will was espoused by Rousseau- the
  founder of modern nationalism.
• The form of nationalism which emerged from the
  French Revolution was based on the assertion that
  the French people possessed with inalienable
  rights rather than being merely the subjects of
  the crown.
• It was based on a vision of a people or nation
  governing itself- the nation was not merely a
  natural or organic community but a natural
  political community.
• The goal of nationalism is the formation of the
  Nation State
• For nationalists, the great strength of the
  nation-state is that it offers the prospect of
  cultural cohesion and political unity.
• Nationalism legitimises the authority of
  government because it represents the idea of
  popular self government as it is carried out by
  and for the people.
• Nationalists may not always aspire to
  independence- some may have more limited
  objectives such as greater autonomy within a
  nations state.

5
Identity politics

• All forms of nationalism address the issue of
  identity.
• Nationalism informs people of who they are,
  forging social bonds and a collective spirit.It
  may take a variety of forms- for example cultural
  nationalism based on the romantic belief in the
  nation as a unique historical and organic whole
  drawing on popular rituals, traditions and
  legends.
• The importance of distinctive national
  consciousness was first emphasised in Germany by
  Herder and Fichte C18 and C19. Herder
  (1744-1803) believed each nation possessed a
  volksgeist or national spirit which provided the
  people with its creative impulse.
• Another form of identity politics which sometimes
  overlaps with cultural nationalism is ethnic
  nationalism. However, a sa form of nationalism
  it has an exclusive character.

6
Liberal Nationalism

• Shaped by JJ Rouseaus ideas on popular
  sovereignty. It is aspirational.
• Application of liberal ideas in defence of
  individual freedom and equality to the equal
  right of all nations to be recognised as nation
  states.
• It stands for self government and therefore
  opposes foreign rule and repression.. JS Mill
  the boundaries of government should coincide in
  the main with those of nationality.
• Liberals believe that international peace depends
  on the construction of independent sovereign
  nation states.. Liberal nationalism is rational
  and tolerant.
• At heart liberal nationalists are
  internationalist believing in transnational or
  global cooperation.

7
Conservative Nationalism

• Originally suspicious of nationalism as a threat
  to the status quo, conservatives came to embrace
  nationalism as a way of preserving social order..
• Tendency to develop in established nation states.
• It links in with conservative notions of
  organicism- nations evolve naturally from the
  desire of humans to live with those with whom
  share same views, traditions, culture, history
  and appearance..
• Essentially nostalgic and backward looking.
• It is prominent especially when there is a sense
  that the nation is threatened or that a cohesive
  identity is being lost.
• Conservatives fear immigration as a threat to
  social cohesion and are concerned at loss of
  sovereignty to supra national institutions.

8
Expansionist Nationalism

• Populist and linked to imperial expansion later
  C19. a form of jingoism- a mood of nationalist
  enthusiasm and public celebration provoked by
  military conquest and rivalry e.g. Europe on eve
  WW1..
• It denies equality of nations- It believes that
  some nations are culturally superior and
  therefore have a duty to bring benefits of
  civilisation to less developed parts.
• It is chauvinistic- belief in cultural
  superiority- forms include Pan Slavism the goal
  of which was Slavic unity among the peoples of
  south eastern Europe under Russian leadership
  late C19 and C20. German nationalism has roots
  in cultural superiority- volkisch nationalism.
  German chauvinistic nationalism reaches it
  fruition in the racialist volkist beliefs of
  National Socialism and Lebensraum policy
  1930s/40s.
• Chauvinist Nationalism is emotional rather than
  rational. All individual identity is submerges
  in interests of the nation- such extreme form of
  nationalism was termed by Charles Maurras as
  Integral Nationalism.
• Such intense national feeling often springs from
  negative integration- the portrayal of another
  nation or race as the enemy- a them and us view
  of the world.

9
Anti Colonial and post Colonial Nationalism

• Influenced by the western nationalist views of
  the governing European powers- leaders of
  nationalist movements Africa and Asia heavily
  influenced by the ideas of liberal nationalism..
• Clearly aware their economic backwardness in
  comparison with western powers, most sought
  economic as well as political liberation and were
  attracted to socialism. .
• Socialism embodies the ideals of community and
  cooperation which were established in traditional
  pre industrial society. It also provided an
  analysis of inequality and exploitation through
  which the colonial experience could be understood
  and challenged.
• Socialism in some post colonial societies became
  an appeal to a unifying national interest.
  African socialism embraced in Tanzania, Zimbabwe
  and Angola was based not on soviet style state
  socialism but traditional communitarian values
  and the desire to subordinate tribal rivalry to
  the need for economic progress.

10
Liberal Internationalism

• Liberals fear an international state of nature.
  Or a state of international anarchy by which the
  stronger nations could dominate.
• Internationalism promotes mutual cooperation and
  understanding. This explains liberal commitment
  to free trade. The Manchester liberals
  richard Cobden 1804-65 and john bright 1811-89
  free trade would lead to interdependence by
  encouraging nations to specialise and would
  promote mutual understanding.
• Liberals accept the importance of supra national
  organisations such as the league of Nations and
  United Nations in creating an international order
  in which the absolute sovereignty of nation
  states is qualified to ensure the preservation of
  the national independence of all..
• All human beings are of equal moral worth and
  that human rights are universal hence the UN
  Declaration of Human rights 1948 and the European
  Convention on human rights and fundamental
  freedoms 1956. Liberals also believe in
  international law enforceable by institutions
  such as the International Court of Justice and
  the International Criminal Court.

11
Socialist Internationalism

• Socialists reject nationalism as artificial and
  as denying that the true identity of people is
  based on social class. Nationalism has been used
  by elites to beguile the exploited by an appeal
  to a false sense of community with their
  exploiters.
• Socialism is, however, intrinsically
  international. There is a belief in an
  international class struggle. Workers share
  common experience of exploitative relationships
  with workers in different countries.
• Socialist Internationalism is based on the idea
  that humankind is bound together by mutual
  sympathy and compassion.
• Socialist Internationalism can be a basis for
  international cooperation between nations or the
  dissolution of the nation and the recognition of
  one world and one people.

12
Threats to nationalism

• Economic and cultural globalisation- so called
  McDonaldisation of the world has undermined
  nation states.
• However, the mergence of ethnically based and
  aggressive forms of nationalism in former USSR,
  Balkans and Africa- ethno cultural nationalism.
• Centrifugal Nationalism in established nation
  states with rise of political parties and
  movements seeking recognition as nations either
  via greater autonomy within the nation states or
  independence.
• As a reaction increasing movement and fluidity of
  society nations may reinvent themselves in order
  to establish a collective identity as a cohesive
  and unifying force to promote stability-
  Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and
  Canada.