Nationalism

Nationalism is an ideology which holds that the nation, ethnicity or national identity is a fundamental unit of human social life, and makes certain political claims based on that belief, above all the claim that the nation is the only legitimate basis for the state and that each nation is entitled to its own state. In this form nationalism is a universal ideology, but the term also refers to the specific ideology of nationalist movements, which make political claims on behalf of a specific nation. These movements may dispute each others specific claims, but nevertheless they share the general nationalist ideology.

Related Topics:
Ideology - Nation - Ethnicity - National identity - Political - State

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nationalists define individual nations on the basis of certain criteria, which distinguish one nation from another, and also determine who is a member of each nation. These might include a shared language, shared culture, and shared values, but the most important is probably now ethnicity, the membership of an ethnic group. National identity refers both to these defining criteria and to the sense of belonging to that group. Nationalists see membership of nation as exclusive and involuntary, meaning that you can not simply join it like an association.

Related Topics:
Language - Culture - Values - Ethnicity - Ethnic group - Association

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nationalism sees most human activity as national in character. Nations have national symbols, a national character, a national culture, a national music and national literature, national folklore, a national mythology and - in some cases - even a national religion. Individuals share national values and a national identity, admire the national hero, eat the national dish and play the national sport.

Related Topics:
National symbols - National culture - Folklore - Myth - Religion - National values - National identity - National hero - National dish - National sport

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nationalism has had an enormous influence on world history and geopolitics, since the nation-state has become the dominant form of state. Most of the world's population now lives in states which are, at least nominally, nation states. The word 'nation' is often inaccurately used as a synonym for these states. The nation state is intended to guarantee the existence of a nation, to preserve its distinct identity, and to provide a territory where the national culture and ethos are dominant. Most nation-states appeal to a cultural and historical mythos to justify their existence and legitimacy.

Related Topics:
World history - Geopolitics - Nation-state - Ethos - Mythos - Legitimacy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nationalists recognise that non-national states exist, indeed the struggles of early nationalist movements were often directed against empires, such as Austria-Hungary. The Vatican City exists to provide a sovereign state for the leadership of the Catholic Church, not for a nation. The global Caliphate sought by some Islamists is another example of a non-national state.

Related Topics:
Empire - Austria-Hungary - Vatican City - Sovereign state - Catholic Church - Caliphate - Islamists

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Anyone who identifies with a nation, and sees nation-states as legitimate, can be described as a nationalist. In this sense, most adults are passive nationalists. However, the modern vernacular use of nationalism refers to political (and sometimes military) action, in support of nationalist demands. That may include separatism, irredentism, militarism and ethnic cleansing. Political scientists (and the media) usually tend to focus on these more extreme forms of nationalism.

Related Topics:
Vernacular - Separatism - Irredentism - Militarism - Ethnic cleansing

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~