Nationalism

• State or country


  A political entity having the following characteristics: defined territory (recognized borders), a permanent population, a government, is independent or sovereign, and has international recognition
• State Sovereignty


  The right of an independent state to control what happens inside its borders without interference from the outside. Means being able to control your country's internal affairs and to keep other countries from butting in.
• What is a Nation?


  • A group of people with a distinct identity who share common bonds: race/ethnicity (a common ethnic ancestry), language (a "national language"), culture (a shared way of life), history (a common past), religion (a common religion), territory (a certain territory that belongs to the ethnic group; its "land")
• How has Nationalism Developed Throughout History


  1. Pre-15th century: There were no nation-states

  2. 15th-18th century: Nation-states and monarchies developed, people were loyal to their tribe, city-state, empire, or feudal lord, people became loyal to the king

  3. 18-19th century: French Revolution / Napoleonic Wars

  4. 19th -20th century: Nationalism spread throughout Europe / Americas, Loyalty shifted from the king to the country

  5. Nationalism grew because of increased education, culture and technology
• Nationalism


  Intense identification with and loyalty to a nation. A feeling of loyalty towards one's own land and people; the belief that one's greatest loyalty should be to one's country.
• Beliefs and Goals of Nationalists


  • People do not owe loyalty to kings, but to their nation
  • People of a single "nationality," or ancestry, should unite under a single government to create a nation-state
  • Nations, like people, have the right to independence and self-rule (self-determination)
  • Self determination is the belief that a group of people should be able to form their own state and live under a government of their own choosing
• Positive Results of Nationalism


  • Can inspire and unify people
  • Can cause people to overcome differences and work for the common good
  • Can motivate people to seek independence and overthrow colonial rule
  • Can lead to self-determination and democracy
• Negative Results of Nationalism


  • Extreme nationalism can lead to feelings of superiority, which can lead to mistreatment of other national groups: persecutions / pogroms, forced assimilations, ethnic cleansing / genocide
  • Can lead to aggression and war
  • Can cause the break-up of states