Nationalism

A nation is a unique form of collective belonging compared to families, tribes, or clans.

Differences:

• Face-to-Face vs. Imagined: In a family or tribe, members usually know each other personally or have direct kinship ties. In a nation, members will never know most of their fellow members, yet “in the minds of each lives the image of their communion” (Benedict Anderson’s ‘Imagined Communities’).
• Basis of Unity: Families are united by descent/blood. Nations are united by shared beliefs, history, political ideals, and a vision for the future, rather than just blood ties.
• Scale and Permanence: Nations operate on a much larger scale and aspire for a permanent political existence (statehood), unlike smaller social groups.

Comment: This statement is accurate. While some nations are formed on the basis of a single language or religion, it is not a universal rule.

Examples challenging the “One Language/Religion” theory:

• Language: Canada has two official languages (English and French). India has 22 scheduled languages. Yet, both are strong nations.
• Religion: The USA is a nation of immigrants with diverse religions. India is a secular nation with Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs identifying as Indians.
• Conclusion: A nation is primarily a political community held together by a shared commitment to political values (like democracy, secularism) and a common history, rather than cultural homogeneity.

Factors leading to the emergence of nationalism include:

1. Shared History: A sense of a continuing historical identity (e.g., India’s collective memory of the ancient civilization and the freedom struggle).
2. Shared Territory: A deep connection to a specific land or ‘motherland’ (e.g., the Zionist movement’s attachment to Israel).
3. Common Political Ideals: A shared vision of the state (e.g., the USA is united by belief in ‘Liberty’ and the Constitution).
4. Common Political Identity: A desire for independent political existence (e.g., African nations emerging from colonization).

Meaning: The right to national self-determination is the claim that every distinct nation/people has the right to govern themselves, usually by forming their own independent state, free from external control.

Formation of States:

• 19th Century Europe: Led to the unification of Germany and Italy.
• Post-WWI: Breakup of Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires into small nation-states.
• Decolonization (20th Century): Asian and African nations (like India, Kenya) used this right to gain independence from colonial rule.

Challenges to States:

• It creates challenges when smaller groups within an existing nation claim this right. For example, the demand for a separate Basque country in Spain or the Kurdish struggle in the Middle East challenges the integrity of existing borders.

Nationalism is a double-edged sword:

• Unite and Liberate:
  Example: Indian Freedom Struggle. Nationalism united diverse people (Bengalis, Punjabis, Tamils) against British rule, leading to liberation and the formation of a democratic state.
  Example: Unification of Italy and Germany in the 19th century.
• Divide and Generate Conflict:
  Example: Partition of India (1947). Conflicting nationalisms (religious nationalism) led to the violent division of the country.
  Example: Breakup of Yugoslavia. Ethnic nationalism led to a brutal civil war and the fragmentation of the country into smaller states (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia).

Democracies are more effective because:

• Inclusion: Democracies allow diverse groups to participate in power-sharing (e.g., Belgium model), whereas authoritarian regimes suppress differences.
• Negotiation: In a democracy, nationalist demands can be negotiated constitutionally (e.g., granting special autonomy to regions like Quebec in Canada or Scotland in the UK).
• Legitimacy: Suppressing aspirations by force (authoritarianism) often breeds resentment and terrorism. Democratic dialogue provides a legitimate outlet for grievances.

Limitations of nationalism include:

• Intolerance: It can lead to hatred of “the other” (xenophobia) and minorities within the nation.
• War and Conflict: Extreme nationalism (Jingoism) has been the cause of two World Wars.
• Ignoring Global Issues: An obsession with national borders can prevent cooperation on global problems like climate change or pandemics that require a post-national approach.