Nationalism

• Liberal Nationalist views on the State

  • Focus on the nation-state as the basis for all modern states.
  • Nation states depend on civic nationalism for their survival.
  • Idea that internationalism is good and can break down divisions that separate people based on separate states - as this is a denial of liberty.
  • Domination by external states is a barrier to national progress.
  • The state should be based on democratic institutions and the idea of liberty.
• Liberal Nationalist views on the Economy

  • National self-determination is essential to economic progress.
  • Economic development to improve the wellbeing of citizens is essential to improving the nation.
  • Idea of free trade between nations to increase prosperity and export liberal democracy - such as in former communist nations in the 1990s.
• Liberal Nationalist views on Human Nature

  • Membership of a nation is not dependent on ethnicity or religion - simply subscription to civic nationalism.
  • Culture should be protected through democratic institutions and the ideal of liberty.
  • Humans naturally desire 'government by consent'.
  • Humans are naturally opposed to domination by an external state or monarch.
  • Humans naturally seek international and supranational co-operation, such as the EU or NATO.
• Liberal Nationalist views on Society

  • Society can exist outside of national identity.
  • Civic nationalism advocates the creation of national pride without the need for a common history or ethnicity.
  • National boundaries in society should be broken down on the basis that the nation-state is a denial of liberty.
  • Support a multicultural society; traditional nationalism is replaced by civic pride and patriotism.
• Conservative Nationalist Views on the Economy

  • Some seek to reduce external interference by opposing free trade and adopting protectionist measures.
  • Modern nativism; adopt protectionist policies to oppose the subversion of the nation by globalisation - such as the doctrines of Trump.
  • Modern imperialism; advocates for the economic dominance of a region as essential to the superiority of a nation.
  • Nativism seeks to reduce economic competition which in turn threatens economic progress.
• Conservative Nationalist views on Society

  • Traditional nationalists; fear that liberalism and excess individual liberty will weaken the unity of the nation.; society should be led by the collective will of the people.
  • Focus on unifying society; shown in Bismarck's Germany or Garibaldi's Italy.
  • Organic society united by a shared sense of history and culture.
• Conservative Nationalist views on Human Nature

  • Traditional; language is key feature of common culture - people may unite based on common language.
  • Racialist; nationality is reserved to members of that race such as Chinese nationalism. A racial group is the basis of nationhood.
  • Humans are naturally patriotic towards their nation.
  • Regressive Nationalists; humans are naturally xenophobic, fearing the influence of external states and groups inside society - may be antisemitic; humans naturally desire a strong and unified nation.
• Conservative Nationalist Views on the State

  • Regressive Nationalists; state must defend the nation from internal and external threats; fear influence of foreign states and groups into society - including antisemitism.
  • Conservative states are either excessively defensive and seek to preserve national traditions; or are expansionist and seek to spread their national values to other peoples - such as the British Empire.
  • The state exists to serve the interests of the organic nation.
• Expansionist Nationalist Views on Human Nature

  • Some humans are racially-superior to others; they deserve to be dominated by the superior nation.
  • Humans are naturally militaristic and seek to defend their nation.
  • Humans are naturally racist; this motivates people to defend their nation.
• Expansionist Nationalist Views on the State

  • State should be chauvinistic; one nation is superior to others.
  • State can be imperial; seeking to colonise other nations.
  • State should be militaristic; nationalism and the state are joined by military conquest.
• Anti/Post-Colonial Nationalist Views on the State

  • State needs to be authoritarian; need for strong central authority to build national identity which has been suppressed by colonialism or imperialism.
  • State should focus on 'liberation politics'.
  • State often shaped by Leadership Cults as the leader of the state also becomes leader of the nation.
• Anti/Post-Colonial Nationalist views on Society

  • Society should be based upon 'liberation politics'.
  • Pan-Nationalism in society; different people with common identities such as race, tribe, or culture will come together in a new national society that has not existed before.
  • Examples include pan-Arabism, and pan-Africanism.
• Anti/Post-Colonial Nationalist Views on the Economy

  • Most nationalist movements of this kind are socialist; synthesis of nationalism and socialism creates an economy which is independent of global capitalism.
  • These nations seek to free themselves from 'economic imperialism'.
• Black Nationalism

  • Belief in the common ancestry of black peoples in Africa; Ethiopia is a key focus, seen as the ancient cradle of civilisation.
  • Associated with 'black consciousness'; a collective identity based on a common experience of slavery and oppression.
  • One practical application in the creation of the State of Liberia; in West Africa.
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

  • Believed that patriotism and civic pride were vital qualities needed to reinforce the nation.
  • Romantic idea of the nation; existence of a 'national spirit' which could unify people and form a basis for democracy.
  • Liberal; belief in the collective freedom of the people.
  • Republican; would only accept government by the collective consent of the people.
  • Rational; provides a rational justification for the political existence of the nation.
• Johann Gottfried von Herder

  • Very romantic nationalist thinker; reacted against the rational ideas of Rousseau.
  • Believed that a common language was key to nationalism.
  • A national language expresses the common culture of a people, so Herder claimed a nation is defined by it's culture.
  • 'Volksgeist'; the common culture and national spirit of a people.
  • German unification; German should be defined by their language and that this could form the basis for a united German nation.
  • Conservative Nationalist.
• Giuseppe Mazzini

  • Romantic revolutionary figure who was willing to fight for his nationalist beliefs; regarded as the founder of a united Italy in the 1860s.
  • Led the 'Young Italy' Movement; republican and determined to overthrow the monarchy.
  • A nation could only consider itself free if it was a pure democracy.
  • Recognised the importance of the romantic idea of a national spirit.
  • Conflicts with liberalism; views collective freedom of the nation as superior to individual freedom.
• Charles Maurras

  • Anti-Democracy; supported a hereditary monarchy.
  • Saw Monarchy as symbol of national power and pride.
  • Laid a heavy stress on patriotism.
  • Reactionary; seeks bygone age of French Glory.
  • Chauvinistic; a quasi-fascist belief that the French were racially superior.
  • Individualism should be suppressed in favour of a collective national spirit.
  • Integral Nationalism; denial of individual will in favour of collective will of the nation.
• Marcus Garvey

  • Developed idea of black-nationalism; a force to unite all peoples of African origin.
  • Anti-Colonial; imperialism was main obstacle to black nationalism.
  • Pan-Nationalist; seeks to bring all African nations together.
  • Major influence on 'black consciousness' movement of the 1960s.
  • Common Black Identity; Ethiopia was the birthplace of all Black people.