nationalism

• all forms of nationalism recognise the nation as the basis of a community, however there is much discussion about what a nation is
• a nation refers to people - or more specifically to a people. belonging to a nation means being part of larger group of people who share particular characteristics like language, culture values traditions, history or religion.
• confusion arises in part because different nations have different characteristics, so the British may consider themselves a nation, but many Scots indentify instead with a Scottish nation.
• the French consider their language to be a key part of their nationhood, and it might be argued that the love of food is an important part of national identity
• by contrasts, American nationhood has been forged on the idea of the American dream which is the view that Anyone, no matter what their background, can be successful if they work hard enough.
• The American nation is sometimes seen as a melting pot, where immigrants from other countries and other cultures came to America, and different cultures have merged to form a new culture. Opposite of multiculturalist approach
• self determination can be defined as nations being able to decide how they are governed. Applied to idnidivudals, this could be called autonomy or independence. The belief in self-determination is based on the view that nations are a genuine political association and that only they know what is in their own national interests
• some nationalists rests on the belief that international order can only exists when all nations have right to self determination; others believe that only they, and no other nation have the right to self determination
• self determination versus colonialism - the further you go back in history, the fewer nation states you will find. it used to be a sign of power known as imperialism or colonialism
• culturalism îs a way of understanding nationhood. it is a view that people have an emotional connection with their country that draws them together. whereas civic nationalism, like liberal nationalism are based on a rational approach to nationhood
• proponents of culturalism that each nation has an essence that is tied up in its music art etc.
• Von herder wrote about culutralism in the 18th century, claiming that each nation has its own unique volksgiest - folk spirit, a culmination off ts own unique experiences, history and culture. Herder, no nation could be the same as any other, and each nations culture was as valuable as any others
• Herded is seen by many as the developer of culutralism, but his ideas have been used in a darker way by some to support the idea of expansionist nationalism. This is the idea that one nation unique spirit can be superior to that of other nations, thereby justifying imperialism and domination. Herder rejects this idea.
• unlike civic nationalism, which argues that nationhood can be virtually instant, cultural views of nationalism say that membership of a nation takes time to develop. For example, a person many be able to become a French citizens, and be able to speak French fluency but this does not necessarily make them truly French.
• cultrualism has strong links to patriotism - having a significant emotional connection with a country
• racialists ideas are rooted in the beliefs that humanity is not one single human race, but can be meaningfully divided into separate races. This view states that the differences between the races are biological and fixed. Racialists thirties usually ascribe different traits to different races , with certain races being naturally good
• liberal internationalism - liberal nationalism is based on applying the core principles of liberal individualism to the nation. nations have the right to self determination as much as individuals have the right to individual autonomy and freedom. a world of independent nation states.
• liberal nationalists also assume that independent nation states will seek to co-operate with each other as and when they need to - economically,educationally and culturally. This will create the interdependence as they trade goods and services
• key aim for liberal internationalism is co-operation and interdependency is to secure an internationally stable and peaceful world where disputes can be resolved rationally, without resorting to violence - put faith in supranational institutions.