chap 2

• Learning Objectives

  1. Define important concepts (nation, nationalism, nationality)

  2. Explain the elements of a nation

  3. Understand the creation of a nation in Philippine context

  4. Prove how Rizal and his works contributed to Philippine Nationalism
• Nationalism


  • A sentiment and manifestation of pride in being part of a nation
  • Display of loyalty to nation
  • Willingness to serve nation’s interest
• Nation


  • People occupying a certain piece of territory
  • Developed attachment to territory/land that sustained
  • Common culture that creates identity varied from others
  • Government system, language, beliefs, traditions
  • Common experience, past, aspirations
  • People are identified with the land (nation & identity)
• Elements of Nationalism

  • Common geographical space delineating land occupied by a certain nation
  • Common, unique culture developed by prolonged interaction
  • Common experience creating a bond among people
  • Common aspirations/goals beyond individual goals
• Elements of Nationalism - Common geographical space

  • Germany & Europe separated by Rhine river
  • China & Korea separated by Yalu river
  • Thailand & Laos separated by Mekong
  • China & India separated by Himalayas
• Elements of Nationalism - Common, unique culture

  • Language similarities in Western Europe and Romance Language
  • Cultural similarities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
• Elements of Nationalism - Common experience

  • Sharing common rules, mores, struggles
  • Sharing common environmental factors and governance system
• Elements of Nationalism - Common aspirations/goals


  • Empathy towards each other leading to shared goals and aspirations
  • Unity among colonized countries due to shared experiences of oppression
• Benedict Anderson: 'A Nation is an Imagined Community. Boundaries are not natural. They are created by human actions. Humans belong to 1 specie but nationalities were created due to cultural, social, political, economic developments.'
• Benedict Anderson: 'Smallest nation will never know most of their members, meet or listen to them, yet in their mind, they form an image of communion. Regardless of actual inequality and exploitation, it is conceived as horizontal comradeship. Imagined limited.'
• Nation


  An imagined community where the smallest nation will never know most of their members, meet or listen to them, yet in their mind, they form an image of communion
• Nation

  Regardless of actual inequality and exploitation, it is conceived as horizontal comradeship
• Nation

  Even the largest of nations, with billions of people, is imagined to have finite boundaries, beyond which are other nations
• Nation

  Nations dream of being free
• Nation

  1. Walls separating imagined communities getting smaller

  2. Intermarriages

  3. Free trade

  4. Globalization

  5. Studies on civilization no longer tied to geographical spaces but on people and culture
• Strong force in building Nationalism
• Factors contributing to building Nationalism

  • Cultural and historical forces
  • Willingness to defend and die
• Anderson: 'Nation = imagined communities'
• Common saying: 'Nation = real and worth defending'
• Nationalism arises for various reasons
• Awakening on oppression of colonizers

  Led to revolutionary movements to overthrow colonizers
• Need in response to an internal change

  Ex: 1789 French Revolution against monarchy
• French Revolution 1789

  • Nobles & clergy were free from tax, lived comfortable lives. Ordinary Frenchmen heavily taxed to support outside wars, sons go to war. Monarchy was insensitive to problems of poverty & hunger. Demanded execution of the King & Queen
• Nationalism in Philippine Context

  Bayanihan= sense of community, damayan. Not only a feeling of pride or attachment. It must have a purpose. Kaginhawaan= all needs provided for and free. Kalayaan= objective of nationalism. Rizal demanded political/economic reforms, not freedom/separation from Spanish rule
• Nationalism & Patriotism

  Patriotism is higher and more intense than nationalism. Patriots actively fight and struggle for the nation's interest
• Patriotism

  Patriots sacrifice their life willingly
• Patriotism

  Patria=father. Not only manifest love or attachment to the nation but actively fight and struggle for its interest
• Patriotism

  In the Philippines, considered matriarchal, "inang bayan"
• Nationalism/Patriotism versus ethnocentrism

  Own is considered superior to others
• Rizal countered Spanish Colonizers' belief

  That Filipinos are lazy, indolent, and scandalous. Natives are poor. Colonizers are poor, they came to the country to enrich themselves