Nationalism is a complex term, which refers to the consolidation of different national factors such as national identity, ideologies and national unity to create a unique image and identity for a community of people based on a geographical or demographic region (Geller and Breuilly, 2008:55). There were several ways to described and developed concept over time. While the traditional definition of nationalism focused on the division of people in different groups based on their birth affinity, the modern approach to the concept defines it as a phenomenon wherein modern societies tend to achieve a status quo (Hobsbawm, 2012:86). Moreover, Erk and Anderson (2009:191) have defined it as a practice via which the minority groups reach to the state …show more content…
Davidson (2000: 67) explains that nationalism usually results into the development of groups of people with similar ethnicity and cultural background. According to Davidson (Ibid), ethnicity leads to the development and creation of different groups of people based on different language, religion, culture, territory and even race. Thus, ethnicity and race are usually considered to be the two important items of nationalism. However, modern sociologists argued that it is not only ethnicity that causes nationalism, but there are several other factors that act as its antecedents. Hence, the study aims at evaluating if all nationalisms are based on either race or ethnicity or there are other forms of nationalism as …show more content…
The early ethnic groups that inhabited Britain consisted of Welsh, English, Irish and Scottish (Comaroff and Jean, 2009; 112). While academics have compared and correlated ethnic nationalism development in the Europe with Britain, Asari (2008: 16) argues that the development of nationalism in Europe was mainly due to different revolutions, but the development of nationalism in Britain was an outcome of a process that was carried out over a long period of time. Asari (Ibid) also explains that as the monarch was established in Britain, a complete English culture was established, which led to nationalism based on the race of people
Nationalism has been a potent force for change since the development of human civilization. However, opinion about the extent to which nationalism may be appropriately pursued is highly diverse, a factor that has led to immense tragedy and suffering in countless regions worldwide. While it is both appropriate and sometimes encouraged to take pride in being part of a nation, it is of the utmost importance that it is done without harming or subjugating people of another. Uniting a people by force and potentially eliminating or destroying those who may oppose it or not belong to it is unacceptable ethically, morally, and socially.
All over the world and in history, countries and nations have expressed pride towards their nations through spirit and have unified together as one. Nationalism is the force behind the unification, strength, and cooperation of these nations. First, nationalism is a powerful force that helps to unite all different people into a single nation. It is also important for nations to use nationalism to claim justified independence from one another. Finally, nationalism can be taken too far if it is used unjustly or incorrectly. Nationalism is important and necessary for beneficial political changes, but can become harmful and unproductive when used for a country’s personal agenda and lust for power.
A simple definition of nationalism is an “extreme feeling of patriotism in which a country believes to hold a degree of superiority over other countries”. In an ideal world, superiority and inferiority are terms that shouldn’t exist and every country should hold a mutual equal status. Unfortunately however, we do not live in such an idealized world and so for some countries to be ahead of others in economic, political and socio fields is apparent. Initially, the idea of superiority has negative connotations, however with regards to nationalism, this is not always the case and as proven throughout history, nationalism has helped achieve positive outcomes.
Nationalism is a political, economic and social ideology, doctrine and practice describing the “advocacy of or support for the interests of one’s own nation”, especially above the interests of other outside nations, individuals, and regions (“Nationalism”). It is a conscious state of mind where individuals believe their duty and loyalty is to the nation-state. It believes that a nation is the most crucial aspect for human social life because it gives a nation a sense of unity by promoting the shared interests and identities of the individuals such as language, race, religion etc. (“Nationalism”). Therefore, the aim of nationalism is to preserve and promote the nation’s culture as opposed to other cultures. Politically, the goal is gaining and
In the late 19th century, with the squelching of the revolutions of 1848, many Europeans still desired reforms. In this desire, the longing for unification began to gain ground. As the probability of unification in places, such as, Germany and Italy began to intensify, Europeans with liberal views quickly began to entertain a nationalistic way of thinking. Many leaders of this school of thought were supporters of, British statesman, Benjamin Disraeli. Disraeli gave a famous speech at the Crystal Palace in London, in 1872. In his speech he challenged Europeans to choose their paths. The two paths were to either advance global Imperial expansion or embrace insignificance in world affairs (Perry 151). This aroused the spirit of loyalty in many European citizens and inspired many speeches and literature in allegiance. These loyalists included Hermann Ahlwardt and Karl Pearson in “The Semitic vs. the Teutonic Race” and “National Life from the Standpoint of Science,” respectively. The beginnings of Nationalistic extremism threatened to destroy the peaceful ideals that had come about with the Enlightenment. European Nationalists combined the ideas of Social Darwinism with extreme Nationalism and soon became wrought with intolerance and irrationality.
Nationalism has a long history although most scholarly research on Nationalism only began in the mid-twentieth century. Some scholars point to the French Revolution of 1789 as the birth of Nationalism. The French Revolution is seen...
Nationalism is way of thinking both political and socially to create a community united by: history, ethnicity, religions, common culture, and language. Numerous effects occurred while establishing a Nationalist community, some effects were a long term impact on Nationalism, and other was short term impacts on Nationalism.
Nationalism at its core is the support of a country. The goal of a country is to have some sort of resonance within the individuals that reside there that call themselves citizens. If the citizens don’t feel any connection with their country, they may move to find one that they feel closer too. Once found, they may support the country over others, defend it within conversations of politics or just find groups that have the same ideals they do about the country. This papers purpose is to illustrate the pros of nationalism as well as its cons.
“Nationalism” is defined as “A social and political outlook insisting that the state should embody a national community united by some or all of the following: history, ethnicity, religion, common culture, and language” . Essentially, nationalism is an intense pride for ones’ country caused by a push for national unity. Nationalism was stirred due to the sense of loss in national origin.
The most important value of nationalism to democracy lies in the fact that it has the capacity to unite individual citizens into a single entity with shared beliefs. Democracy requires a definition of demos or who are included in the game and who are not (Nodia 6). Wherever the boundaries of the playing field are in dispute, democratic institutions (such as participation, representation, or cooperation) simply cannot function. Thus, for democracy to o...
Throughout the nineteenth century, many Americans believed in expanding the country to create a stronger union. To them, it did not matter who had already claimed the land or for that matter who lived on it. Even though it was already inhabited by Mexico, there was no stopping the expansion of our union. With this in mind, there was only one solution; war. (History.com)
The nature and meaning of the term ‘nationalism’ has many different facets and dimensions. At times, deconstructing the different theoretical literature can become confusing and complicated process. These ambiguities arise from the different meanings scholars attribute to the term, while also the nature and meaning of nationalism is constantly being contested. To Primordialists, the *path to nationalism
Race and ethnic roots have been a core phenomenon which determine the human relations since the beginning of first civilizations to today’s contemporary world. Until the 19th century, race had a usage in the meaning of ‘nation’ but after that time it also started to be used for ‘blacks and whites’ and even for Muslims and Jews in the last century. But what were the aims of this difference and what were the reasons behind it? It is quite simple, and easy to use. With the occurrence of the French Revolution, a new idea - nationalism - has come up and started to affect all the countries; especially empires.
Nationalism is the idea that a people who have much in common, such as language, culture and geographic proximity ought to organize in such a way that it creates a stable and enduring state. Nationalism is tied to patriotism, and it is the driving force behind the identity of a culture. Nationalism had many effects in Europe from 1815, The Congress of Vienna and beyond. In the following essay I will describe many of the consequences of nationalism on European identity, as well as some of the conflicts that it created.
National identity is meticulously constructed through different intricate elements of social behaviours pertaining to the construction of society within a nation; but one can not fully grasp its meaning without gaining a contextual notion of what identity is first. I believe identity is a socially constructed distinction that individuals employ in differentiating self to the others, therefore at a basic level, “national identity is the awareness of difference, a feeling and recognition of ‘we’ and ‘they’” (Lee, 2000: 29). Furthermore, Stuart Hall, one of the most notable scholars in the field consider identities as a sub-product of our society rather than a binding force, whereby he suggests ‘if such society hold together at all, it is not