Patriotism

Patriotism denotes positive attitudes by a person to their own nation, to its national homeland, its culture, its members, and to its interests. The word is derived from the Latin patria, fatherland, which has a much broader meaning than a geographical territory.

Forms of patriotism

Death in battle for the fatherland is the archetype of extreme patriotism. Less dramatic forms of patriotism include a wide range of attitudes, expressions, and acts. In wartime they can be directly correlated to military necessity: the home front supports the army, and individual effort contributes to military success.

Related Topics:
Wartime - Home front

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Three forms of patriotism can be distinguished. The first is personal patriotism, which is emotional and voluntary. The patriot in this sense adheres to certain patriotic values, such as respect for the flag. However, the patriots often insist, that the entire population of the nation shares adherence to these values, creating a values-based ideological patriotism. It is structurally similar to other values ideologies and movements, such as the family values movement. The political expression, in both cases, consists of campaigns to legally enforce the values in question. Two proposed amendments to the United States Constitution illustrate the similarity: one enforces Christian values and would effectively prohibit same-sex marriage, one enforces patriotic values and would forbid flag-burning.

Related Topics:
Values - Family values - United States Constitution - Prohibit same-sex marriage - Forbid flag-burning

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In any case, governments of nation-states always promote an official patriotism which has a high symbolic and ceremonial content. It is a logical consequence of the nation-state itself, which derives legitimacy from being the expression of the nation. National monuments, and veterans days and commemoration ceremonies are typical examples. For various reasons, the government may also launch a ?patriotism campaign?, to promote identification with the nation and its symbols.

Related Topics:
National monument - Veterans days - Commemoration ceremonies

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Patriotism relies heavily on symbolic acts, such as displaying the national flag, singing the national anthem, participating in a mass rally, placing a patriotic bumper sticker on one's vehicle, or any other way of publicly proclaiming allegiance to the nation-state. Symbolic patriotism in wartime is intended to raise morale, in turn contributing to the war effort. Peacetime patriotism can not be so easily linked, to a measurable gain for the nation, but the patriot does not see it as inferior. Saluting the flag is considered equally patriotic, if it is done every morning at a government office, or under enemy fire on the battlefield.

Related Topics:
National flag - National anthem - Bumper sticker

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Levels of patriotism vary across time, and among nations. Typically, patriotic intensity is higher, when the nation is under external threat. In the United States, personal patriotic expression is ubiquitous. Although many forms of symbolic patriotic expression originated in older western European nations, they are now less pervasive there. Patriotism in western Europe often has specific anti-immigration connotations, and the historical perspective on nationalism and war is shaped by the destruction in World War II. However, in the zone of the most recent wars, in the states of former Yugoslavia, patriotic emotions are still intense. In much of eastern Europe, for instance in the Baltic States, patriotism is indistinguishable from politicised nationalism.

Related Topics:
United States - World War II - Yugoslavia - Baltic States

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