Notes on Nationalism and Patriotism

RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

MODULE 1

Basic Concepts and Principles

Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent
with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote 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 to create
a nation state.

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. 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 culture. There
are various definitions of a "nation", which leads to different types of nationalism. The
two main divergent forms are ethnic nationalism and civic nationalism.

The consensus among scholars is that nations are socially constructed and historically
contingent. Throughout history, people have had an attachment to their kin
group and traditions, territorial authorities and their homeland, but nationalism did not
become a prominent ideology until the end of the 18th century.

There are three prominent perspectives on nationalism.

1. Primordialism (perennialism), which reflects popular conceptions of

nationalism but has largely fallen out of favour among academics, proposes that
there have always been nations and that nationalism is a natural phenomenon.
2. Ethnosymbolism explains nationalism as a dynamic, evolutionary phenomenon
and stresses the importance of symbols, myths and traditions in the development
of nations and nationalism.
3. Modernization theory, which has superseded primordialism as the dominant
explanation of nationalism, adopts a constructivist approach and proposes that
nationalism emerged due to processes of modernization, such as
industrialization, urbanization, and mass education, which made national
consciousness possible. Proponents of this latter theory describe nations as
"imagined communities" and nationalism as an "invented tradition" in which
shared sentiment provides a form of collective identity and binds individuals
together in political solidarity. A nation's foundational "story" may be built around
a combination of ethnic attributes, values and principles, and may be closely
connected to narratives of belonging.

Nationalism can be positive or negative, depending on its ideology and outcomes.

Nationalism has been a feature of movements for freedom and justice, has been
associated with cultural revivals, and encourages pride in national achievements. It has
also been used to legitimize racial, ethnic, and religious divisions, suppress or attack
minorities, and undermine human rights and democratic traditions. Radical
Notes on Nationalism and Patriotism
RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

nationalism combined with racial hatred was a key factor in the Holocaust perpetrated
by Nazi Germany.

Elements of Nationalism

1. Cultural- Traditions that are unique to a specific ethnicity.

2. Religious- Majority of population practices certain religion.
3. Ethnic- Generally similar phenotype in people.
4. Territorial- Sense of geographical place.
5. Language- Defining, single, identifying language spoken by the majority of the
population.
6. Historical-People of country have a shared past.

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