Professional Documents
Culture Documents
What is Nation?
Nation and Nationalism
Distinction between Nation' and other 'Collective Groups
.Variants of Nationalism
Nationalism and Pluralism: Rights of Cultural Minorities
Multiculturalism
Nationalism
Critique of Nationalism: Virtues and Limitations of
'Nation' and 'Nationalism' have been two great motivating forces to shape the
It was in the 19th century that the tide of nationalism swept the whole of Western
Europe. It led to the unification of German and Italian States into powerful Nation-
States. The closing years of the 19th century marked the beginning of nationalism
in Asia. Later national sentiments spread to Africa. The Treaty of Versailles (1919)
after the First World War recognised the complete independence of countries such
as Belgium, Poland and former Czechoslovakia. Nationalism is and shall ever remain
a powerful force in the world.
WHAT IS NATION?
The word 'nation' is derived from the Latin word 'natio' which means 'birth' or
race'. Many writers have been using the term 'Nation' to denote those people who
have a common ethnic origin and are inhabiting a particular territory. Later the
factor of 'common language' was also added to these. Thus ethnic origin (descent),
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comm language, common religio and geographic unity were the factors which
were supposed to constitute a nation,
Descent, Religion and Language are not the Basic Elements of Nationalism
Common race, common religion and common
language are evidently important
fa in building a nation. But the presence r absence of any one of these does
notnecessarily imply the presence or absence of the national spirit.
Descent: Ethnicity is of doubtful importance in the formation of
nationality. Today,
hundreds of races are found merged in the United States. The inhabitants of Switzerland
do not think of themselves as French, Germans, or Italians, but as the Swiss.
Language: Some writers believed that "language' counted far more than race in
the moulding of a nation. But the
English-speaking people constitute not one but
several nations. The Swiss speak least three distinct languages-French, German
at
and Italian. India also has a large number of languages spoken in different
Indian languages included mainly these: Hindi, Marathi,
regions.
Gujarati, Oriya, Assamese,
Bengali, Punjabi, Bodo, Maithili, Dogri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
Religion: Common 'religion' was also regarded as a basic element of nationalism.
The creation of Pakistan owed to religious nationalism of Muslim
community. But
most modern Nation-States manage to flourish without
insisting upon unityof
religion. Diverse religious faiths do not interfere with their spirit of nationalism.
Thus neither ethnicity, nor language, nor
religion are regarded as basic elements
of nationalism in this age. What then constitutes a Nation?
Nationality is essentially
"subjective", a condition of mind and a way of feeling and living. In India, it is
nationalism that binds the north, south, east, west Central and north-east zones
together.
NATION AND NATIONALISM
Nationalism as a political doctrine is based upon two assumptions. First, the mankind
is divided into distinct nations. Second, people love their nation; so much so that
this love is often associated with the belief that their nation is better than any other.
Nationalism expressed itself in the form of "patriotic feelings". People with nationalist
ideas fought for political independence of their country. Nation and nationalism are
often associated with the following beliefs and aspirations:
1. Common Beliefs or a Sense of Oneness: Each nation is like a living organism
with its own 'Will', beliefs and purposes. It has, so to speak, a "mystical existence",
which can be felt and may also be seen at times. At the time of international
Sports competitions the Indians, the British and the Chinese would cheer their
resnective teams. Individuals may come and individuals may go, but the Nation
on for ever.
goes
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National unity is the outcome
2. Common History:
victories won and traditions
of a c o m m o n history, of
joint effort. Although
the uprising of
created by a
Indian Independence, this
1857 did not result in
becanme a symbol of nationalism in
event
great
Tantia Tope, the
India. Popularsongs in praise of
of their
Rani of Jhansi and others kept the memory
heroic deeds alive. The Rani of ]Jhansi became
India's
Rani or
ani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai
Jhansi,
peculiar characteristics for hundreds of years..
and yet have been throughout these ages
distinctively Indian, with the same national heritage."
3. The Territory: A geographically defined territory is a powerful factor in the
formation of a nation. For centuries the Jews had no Homeland' of their own.
But the hope that some day Palestine will be restored to them kept alive their
nationalistic passions. This 'Homeland' is usually referred to as 'Motherland' or
Fatherland' or the 'Sacred Land'. Mazzini, the spiritual father of Italian nationalism,
said, "our country is our home, the house that God has given us." The territory includes
the landscape, rivers, lakes, mountains, vegetation and wildlife of the country.
The Indians have to climb the Himalayas to reach many of the holy places, such
as Badrinath and Amarnath. It is the Ganga that makes Haridwar or Varanasi so
holy and so compulsive for ascetics and artists.
4. Shared Ideals and Values: We shall now refer to ideals or values that national
leaders thought were important in the life of the nation. For example, the leaders
of democratic nations firmly adhered to these values--Democracy, Freedom
Secularism and Liberalism. The core values of liberalism are rationalism, toleration
and a self-regulating market economy.
5. Common Identity: The culture of a country is made up of several different trends,
religions, traditions and influences. Despite differences of race, religion and
languages, there is a basic unity in the thinking of people with nationalist
ideas. Corporate efforts in the field ot language and literature created an
atmosphere
of intellectual unity in India. Kannada is the language of all classes of people in
Karnataka. In Bengal people professing all
religious
taiths converse in
Bengali.
The culture of India was shaped by a vast number of influences, the Arvan, the
Dravidian, the Islamic, the Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and the Christian. The preachings
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Vahir and the Sufi saints-Hazrat Chishti, Nizamuddin Aulia and others-brought
of K
Liberal Nationalism
nationalism had its birth England in in the 19th centurv
It is presumed that liberal Stuart Mill. Liberal Nationalism
Bentham and John
Its great exponents were Jeremy to colonialism, i.e., the
equal. Therefore,
are
it is opposed
views that all nations ruled o v e r less powerful countries and
countries
practice by which the powerful their own 'power' and 'wealth',
in order to i n c r e a s e
resources
used their material the nation-state should be regarded as "an
notion of nationalist,
According to this
ideal, universally applicable".
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lts two main manifestations are: () economic freedom, i.e., the governmentshn.
not intertere with business, finance and trade; and (i) a Constitutional
that
nstitutional Government
respects people's rights and liberties, especially civil liberties,
freedom
state is free to
pursue its national interests through a policy of 'free trade
Each
by means of 'international cooperation'. and
Conservative Nationalism
The main themes of conservative ideology are () a respect to tradition, (i) social
cohesion, i.t., unity, (ii) National self-determination or tne rignt or all
countries to
remain Independent, (io) Public order, and () Partiotism.
Edmund Burke, the British statesman of the 18th century, continued to be
the
main source of inspiration for conservative thinkers of the 19th and 20th centuries
He said, "state was to be treated with 'divine reverence" because "it is a
in all
partnership
science, a
partnership in all art, a partnership in
every virtue and in all
perfection." In other words, state is designed to achieve no special purpose, but
various purposes according to
varying needs of the people. Patriotism, according
to Burke, is not
only "love for your country" but love for all those "traditional
values and institutions that had
history's approval, such as the Church (religion)
the Aristocracy and
Democracy.
Radical or Aggressive Nationalism
After the First World War
(1914-1918) a new form of nationlism, in the form of
Fascism and Nazism, arose in Italy and
Germany respectively. It was opposed tothe
principles of liberalism, democracy and socialism. Benito Mussolini, who obtained
power in Italy by force, preached that the Nation has a Will and
it own. The growth of Personality of
Empire is an expression of nation's vitality.
Italy annexed Abyssinia (Ethiopia) after a most merciless warfare. Like Italian
Fascists, Germany's Naxi Party was also opposed to liberalism and
The Nazi Party depicted the Germans as a Master internationalism.
Race' that was destined for
World domination. Hitler formed the Nazi
government in Germany in 1933. He
placed his theory of nationalism on toundations of 'race'
blood' (Victorious Sword). He said, "he who does not (elimination
of Jews) and
wish to fightm has not the
right to exist in the world. He Conquered one
country after another-Denmark,
Norway, Luxembourge and Belgium. On Ist September 1939
into Poland. That became the immediate cause of the
German troops stormed
Second World War (1939-1945).
Jn brief, one-man rule, militarism,
agEression, and
imperialism (control over other
Countries) and racialism became tne carainal features
Cha World War II resulted in the overthrow of the of the Radical nationalism.
Fascist and Nazi dictatorial
regimes. With that aggressive nationalism stood thoroughly
anti-people and anti-peace policies. discredited. mainly its
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Marxian N a t i o n a l i s m
SovietUnion (Communist
Russia) and captured city after city, the Russians defended
nation with great determination. On 31 the Commander
their January, 1943 German
sutTrendered to the Russian army. The nationalistic pride of the Russian people
showed that "mankind is naturally divided into distinct nations." This also suggests
that the world is and would remain "a collection of nation-states."
Although the ideal of One Nationality, One State' may not be realisable, each distinct
national group should be granted these rights: () the right to conserve its language
and script, (ii) the right to conserve its culture and customs; and (iii) the right to
conserve its religion and other institutions. The rulers of Pakistan failed to protect
the language (Bengali language), customs and traditions of the people of East
Pakistan. Therefore, Pakistan disintegrated. In December 1971, East Pakistan became
an independent state called 'Bangladesh.' Leader of this Independence Movement
and
was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Constitution of India protects cultural
educational rights of the minorities. The Contitution secures to all citizens liberty
of belief, faith and worship.
MULTICULTURALISM
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Search for 'dignity' has contributed much to the claims of the minority cul..
There are two, basic principles of 'Multiculturalism First', it should be oted that
there are cultural differences. Second, Whites should show a 'deep revereno
the religion and culture of the non-Whites. Minority cultures have as much
for
ht
to flourish as the culture of the Whites has. Let state policies bring Blacks
and
Whites and Hispanics together.
India's Multiculturalism
India is one of the best examples of a multicultural society. Our constitution enahlod
all minorities to conserve their distinct language and culture. Ashish Nandv,a social
scientist, used the expression Salad Bowl' in the context of a free, open and pluralistic
society that India is. Ours is not a hegemonic culture that systematically makes
minorities feel less than equal. No cultural or racial group is ignored or regarded
as unimportant in India.
Rabindranath Tagore
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Cabes thatunified by national sentiment are always more stable. Their laws
are
3.
O11Sually better obeyed than states held together by force and repression. In
the colonies and subject nations before the Second World War, we are told that
uWhite Europeans carried around whips as naturally as they did handkerchiefs "
Its Limitations
We have already seen that the ideal of nation-state can cause lots of difficulties.
Fach single State includes more than one nationality. Therefore, the only hope
of peace in the world lies in the ultimate recognition of the fact that several
nationalities may live together in harmony within a State.
2. Aggressive nationalism breeds hatred. Patriotism may be a virtue, but it should
not be allowed to blur our vision. The Fascists linked patriotism to 'Expansionisn.
Their nationalism led to wars of aggression and destruction on a mass scale.
3. The world has increasingly become more and more unified. Distance has been
reduced. Economic processes have become global in these areas-communications,
production, trade and finance. So we are living in a strange world: on the one
hand, the gradual shrinking in the size of the world and an economic "drive to
unity"; on the other, the nation-state that obstructs this unity.
J
comprised
and associations.
of countless families, clans, tribes
Nationalism that viewsare that
Variants of Nationalism: () Liberal
nati.
EXERCISES
A. Following Questions carry 1 Mark each
(Answers should not exceed 20 Words each)
1. (a) What is the significance of 'defined territory' in the formation of a nation?
Ans. The territory is usually referre to as 'Motherland' or 'Fatherland' of the
people.
(b) What is that "Sense of Oneness' that makes people feel that "they are all part
of the same nation"?
Ans. The sense of Oneness comprises similar beliefs. At the time of international
sports events people of different nations would cheer their respective teams.
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(b) Who emerged as the two main
propagandists of Radical Nationalism after
the First World War? Mention any two of their beliefs
Ans. Mussolini in Italy and Hitler in
or
prechings.
Germany emerged as the two
main
propagandis of radical nationalism.
They both opposed the principles of
liberalism and democracy-secondly, they both followed an Imperialist policy
and committed acts of aggression.
(c) What is meant by Multiculturalism?
Ans. Multiculturalism
suggested that all racial groups in a country have
rights and opportunities. Their race, language, religion and culture equal
be regarded as should not
unimportant. Multiculturalism was based on two principles:
'acceptance' of dissimilaries between different races and a
for the same. 'deep reverence'
C. Multiple Choice Questions
3. (a) Who among the following was the key exponent of Conservative Nationalism?
(i) John Stuart Mill (i) Edmund Burke
ii) Jeremy Bentham (iv) Karl Marx
Ans. (i) Edmund Burke
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Nation and Nationalism are often associated with various beliefs and evente
nts of
What role did the following factors play in
the past
as history.
(a) A Sense of Oneness (b) Common History
on-building?
natiorn-building?
(c) defined Territory
A (d) Shared Ideals and Values
7. What are the major Variants of Nationalism?
8. What are the virtues and limitations of nationalism?
Or
Do you agree with the view that "nationalism can both unite people as well as
create bitterness and conflict in the world." Give reasons for your answer.