Historical role of Nationalism
Nationalism, political or social
philosophy in which the welfare of the nation-state as an entity is considered
paramount. Nationalism is basically a collective state of mind or consciousness
in which people believe their primary duty and loyalty is to the nation-state.
Often nationalism implies national superiority and glorifies various national
virtues. Thus love of nation may be overemphasized; concern with national
self-interest to the exclusion of the rights of other nations may lead to
international conflict.
Nationalism is a comparatively
recent phenomenon, probably born with the French Revolution, but despite its
short history, it has been extremely important in forming the bonds that hold
modern nations together. Today it operates alongside the legal structure and
supplements the formal institutions of society in providing much of the
cohesiveness and order necessary for the existence of the modern nation-state. The
rise of centralized monarchies, which placed people under one rule and
eliminated feudalism, made this possible. The realization that they might
possess a common history, religion, language, or race also aided people in
forming a national identity. When both a common identity and a formal authority
structure over a large territory (i.e., the state) exist, then nationalism
becomes possible.
In its first powerful manifestation
in the French Revolution, nationalism carried with it the notion of popular
sovereignty, from which some have inferred that nationalism can occur only in
democratic nations. However, this thesis is belied by the intense nationalism
that characterized the German Empire and later Nazi Germany. Where nationalism
arises, its specific form is the product of each particular nation's history.
Although interdependence and global
communications interconnected all nations by the 1990s, nationalism appears to
have grown more extreme with the breakup of the Soviet empire, the growth of
Muslim fundamentalism, and the collapse of Yugoslavia. Xenophobic, separatist
movements are not necessarily confined to newly independent states; they appear
in many European nations and Canada, as well as India, Iran, Iraq, Turkey,
Lebanon, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and many others. International organizations,
such as the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of American
States, and the Organization for African Unity, represent attempts to curb
extreme nationalism, stressing cooperation among nations.
This form of nationalism came about
during the decolonization of the post war periods. It was a reaction mainly in
Africa and Asia against being subdued by foreign powers. It also appeared in
the non-Russian territories of the Tsarist empire and later, the USSR, where
Ukrainianists and Islamic Marxists condemned Russian Bolshevik rule in their
territories as a renewed Russian imperialism. This form of nationalism took
many guises, including the peaceful passive resistance movement led by Mahatma
Gandhi in the Indian subcontinent.
Criticism:
Nationalism is inherently divisive
because it highlights perceived differences between people, emphasizing an
individual's identification with their own nation. The idea is also potentially
oppressive because it submerges individual identity within a national whole,
and gives elites or political leaders’ potential opportunities to manipulate or
control the masses. At the end of the 19th century, Marxists and other socialists
produced political analysis that were critical of the nationalist movements
then active in central and eastern Europe
In the liberal political tradition
there is widespread criticism of 'nationalism' as a dangerous force and a cause
of conflict and war between nation-states. Nationalism has often been exploited
to encourage citizens to partake in the nations' conflicts. Such examples
include the two World Wars, where nationalism was a key component of propaganda
material. Liberals do not generally dispute the existence of the nation-states,
although some liberal critiques do emphasize individual freedom as opposed to
national identity, which is by definition collective.
