Problems; Nationalism

The idea of nationality is linked to that of the state; a world without states would not have nationalities (the present or modern state only originates from the Treaties of Westphalia of 1648). Although obtaining a nationality is an important element in the discussion on multicultural society, how it may be granted varies too much from state to state to be discussed here. However, nationalism is another issue because is has a cultural rather than a technical or legal nature. Nationalism is a means to an end, used by groups with their own interests. Nationalism may be a positive force as well (e.g. national sports teams) but is often used in a more negative way (e.g. resisting European integration).

In its edition of December 23rd 2017 The Economist included a background article on nationalism. A few quotes highlight the major points. The importance of the topic is clear: “Wherever you look, nationalism is rising. Sometimes it takes the form of self-declared nations demanding the right to determine their future … More often it is a lurch to the populist and reactionary right.”

The article mentions that nationalism is a legacy of Enlightenment, which introduced three major new perceptions: (1) legitimacy surges up from the people (2) government is a statement of the nation’s general will and (3) each nation is different. Nationalism uses any of these concepts to its own advantage. “Today’s nations are, in a sense, products of nationalism, rather than, as nationalists might claim, it is of them.” “A lot of movements … have aimed to surpass the nation. None has succeeded.” At the same time the importance of values within a state and between states is decreasing, resulting in an emphasis on own interests. This contrast with the lessons learnt since the World Wars. “The impotence and insecurity felt by large numbers in developed countries shows that an important lesson has been forgotten”, i.e. growing economies benefitting all participants with safety nets for those who could not participate. Nationalists resist the loss of sovereignty (e.g. Brexit). Modern nationalism ranges from a ‘manipulation of history and culture’ to ‘a civic sort of nationalism, comfortable with themselves [Canadians] and the world around them’.