What is Nationalism?
Nationalism is the belief that humanity is naturally divided into nations and that each nation should have its own political community, usually a sovereign state. A nation is typically defined by some mix of shared language, history, culture, territory and political will. Nationalists argue that people flourish when they live under institutions that reflect their own identity. The word covers a very wide range of movements, from independence campaigns against empires to movements that seek to strengthen the cultural unity of existing states. Because of this range, nationalism can be found on the left, the right and the center.
Core beliefs
- Nations are real and meaningful communities that deserve recognition.
- Each nation has a right to self-determination and, ideally, its own state.
- Loyalty to the nation should come before loyalty to international bodies.
- A shared language, history and culture should be preserved and passed on.
- National interests should guide trade, defense and foreign policy.
- Citizens owe special duties to fellow members of their nation.
History
Historians generally agree that nationalism became a major political force in the late eighteenth century. The American and French revolutions presented the nation as the source of political authority. In Germany, Johann Gottfried Herder argued that each people has its own language and culture, and Johann Gottlieb Fichte called for German national unity. In Italy, Giuseppe Mazzini linked national unification with democracy and republican government. In the nineteenth century, nationalism drove the unification of Italy and Germany and independence movements in Latin America and southeastern Europe. In the twentieth century it shaped the breakup of empires after the First World War and the movements against colonial rule in Asia and Africa after the Second World War. Scholars such as Ernest Gellner and Benedict Anderson later studied how modern states, mass education and print media helped create national identities.
Variants
Civic nationalism defines the nation by shared citizenship and political values. Ethnic nationalism defines it by ancestry, language or culture. Liberal nationalism tries to combine national identity with individual rights. Anticolonial nationalism seeks independence from foreign rule. Economic nationalism favors tariffs, state support for domestic industry and control of strategic resources. Religious nationalism links national identity closely to a particular faith. Separatist or regional nationalism seeks independence or autonomy for a nation within a larger state.
Criticisms
Critics on the cosmopolitan and liberal side argue that nationalism divides humanity, encourages hostility toward outsiders and can lead to discrimination against minorities. Many historians note that nationalism is considered a major cause of both world wars and other conflicts. Critics on the Marxist left argue that it hides class divisions by uniting workers and owners under one flag. Some conservatives argue that intense nationalism can override religion, local traditions and limits on state power. Defenders reply that nations provide the trust and solidarity that democracy and welfare states need, and that self-determination has freed many peoples from imperial rule.
In practice
Nationalism has shaped the modern map of the world. The principle of national self-determination influenced the peace settlements after the First World War and is recognized in the United Nations Charter. Most modern states teach a national history and promote an official language. Nationalist ideas also influence policies on citizenship, immigration, trade protection, defense spending and the protection of national heritage.