CHAPTER 2

Learning Objectives
At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to:
 Define nationalism in relation to the concepts of nation, state, and nation-state;
 Appraise the development of nationalism in the country; and
 Explain the relevance of nationalism and nation-building at present.

Nation and Nationalism

Nationalism is an idea and movement that promotes the interests of a particular nation (as in
a group of people) especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the
nation's sovereignty (self-governance) over its homeland. Nationalism holds that each nation
should govern itself, free from outside interference (self-determination), that a nation is a
natural and ideal basis for a polity, and that the nation is the only rightful source of political
power (popular sovereignty). It further aims to build and maintain a single national identity—
based on shared social characteristics of culture, ethnicity, geographic
location, language, politics (or the government), religion, traditions and belief in a shared
singular history —and to promote national unity or solidarity. Nationalism, therefore, seeks
to preserve and foster a nation's traditional cultures, and cultural revivals have been
associated with nationalist movements.[6] It also encourages pride in national achievements,
and is closely linked to patriotism. Nationalism is often combined with other ideologies, such
as conservatism (national conservatism) or socialism (socialist nationalism).
Throughout history, people have had an attachment to their kin group and traditions, to
territorial authorities and to their homeland, but nationalism did not become a widely
recognized concept until the 18th century. There are three paradigms for understanding the
origins and basis of nationalism. Primordialism (perennials) proposes that there have always
been nations and that nationalism is a natural phenomenon. Ethno symbolism explains
nationalism as a dynamic, evolutionary phenomenon and stresses the importance of symbols,
myths and traditions in the development of nations and nationalism. Modernism proposes
that nationalism is a recent social phenomenon that needs the socio-economic structures of
modern society to exist.
There are various definitions of a "nation", however, which leads to different strands of
nationalism. Ethnic nationalism defines the nation in terms of shared ethnicity, heritage and
culture, while civic nationalism defines the nation in terms of shared citizenship, values and
institutions, and is linked to constitutional patriotism. The adoption of national identity in
terms of historical development has often been a response by influential groups unsatisfied
with traditional identities due to mismatch between their defined social order and the
experience of that social order by its members, resulting in an anomie that nationalists seek to
resolve. This anomie results in a society reinterpreting identity, retaining elements deemed
acceptable and removing elements deemed unacceptable, to create a unified community. This
development may be the result of internal structural issues or the result of resentment by an
existing group or groups towards other communities, especially foreign powers that are (or
 are deemed to be) controlling them. National symbols and flags, national anthems, national
languages, national myths and other symbols of national identity are highly important in
nationalism.
In practice, nationalism can be seen as positive or negative depending on context and
individual outlook. Nationalism has been an important driver in independence movements,
such as the Greek Revolution, the Irish Revolution, the Zionist movement that created
modern Israel, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Conversely, radical
nationalism combined with racial hatred was also a key factor in the Holocaust perpetrated
by Nazi Germany. More recently, nationalism was an important driver of the
controversial annexation of Crimea by Russia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism#:~:text=Nationalism%20holds%20that%20each
%20nation,political%20power%20(popular%20sovereignty).