Ladies and gentlemen,

Today`s speech will be about nationalism vs patriotism. And I will be talking about three main ideas:
What they are exactly and how they are different from each other.

So first of all what are they? Historically they were used in similar contexts. Throughout history they
changed and now one has a more positive meaning than the other – guess which!

Patriotism literally means ”devoted love, support and defense of one`s country; national loyalty”. The
phrase "national pride" isn't that far off from the word "nationalism," but these words are worlds away
in terms of meaning. The word ”patriotism” was first used in the 1700s and back then it meant ”a
freedom fighter” - specifically those who fought against the British in the war for independence.
Generally, people think that military service members are mostly involved in patriotic acts. However,
patriotism can be found in other areas than the military office. For example, diplomats and teachers
show patriotism through their work in the service of their communities. Although the classic example of
patriotism has been right under our nose all this time: displaying the flag of a country in your own home
or in whichever way you would like – and of course you remember this trend of owning phone cases,
bags, clothes, lighters or even underwear with the United Kingdom`s flag or with the American flag. And
I have to say I am sure you have never had a phone case with our country`s flag on it.

What is nationalism? To put it shortly, nationalism is a kind of excessive, aggressive patriotism. Rather
than being a philosophy or way of thinking, nationalism has come to be often associated with a political
approach in which a particular group seeks to establish their cultural practices or beliefs as the country's
official governmental policies. One example is what is being called Hindu Nationalism in India, even
though the country's government is officially secular. There are many examples of nationalism around
the world. Modern nationalism is rooted, in part, in the French and American revolutions that fought for
the sovereignty of their people over monarchies. However, fascist regimes have created a form of
nationalism based on notions of superiority, especially when it comes to ethnicity and religion. In such
contexts, “patriots” can become those who happened to agree with you or look like you, and “traitors”
those who do not. This form of nationalism is what happens when patriotism gets out of hand.

What are some differences between these two terms per se?

- Well, a patriotic person can appreciate and value cultural differences, while a true nationalist
would believe that other people’s cultural beliefs or practices are inherently bad, wrong, or at
least worse than their own.
- To show patriotism, a person does not need to denigrate other countries or cultures. A
nationalist does denigrate other countries or cultues.
- An individual can be patriotic without believing that they're better than other people just
because of what country they were born in. Those with nationalist beliefs think that their
country of origin makes them superior to people from other countries.
I think you got the point. What is important to know is that nationalists work toward a self-governing
state. Their government controls aspects of the economy to promote the nation’s self-interest.
Nationalism sets policies that strengthen the domestic entities that own the four factors of production.
These four factors are:

Capital goods

Entrepreneurship

Natural resources

Labor

Here are some examples of nationalism and its effects.

- In the late 18th century, the American and French revolutions formed large nations that were
free from a monarchy. They ruled by democracy. In 1871, Otto von Bismarck created the nation
of Germany from different tribes. By the 20th century, the North American and European
continents were governed by sovereign nations.
- The Great Depression generated so very harsh economic conditions that many countries
adopted nationalistic policies and mindsets as a defense, which often made the economic
conditions worse.
- Fascist leaders such as Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy used nationalism to
override individual self-interest, sacrificing the welfare of the general population to achieve
social goals.
- Nationalism under fascism focuses on "internal cleansing and external expansion," according to
Professor Robert Paxton in The Anatomy of Fascism. This thinking attempts to justify violence as
a way to rid society of minorities and opponents.
- World War II convinced the Allied nations to opt for global cooperation. The World Bank, the
United Nations, and the World Trade Organization were just three of many global groups
attempting to do that. In the 1990s, Europe's nations formed the European Union.

To conclude, ladies and gentlemen,

Patriotism generally has a positive connotation. It’s used for various positive sentiments, attitudes, and
actions involving loving one’s country and serving the great good of all its people.

Nationalism generally has a negative connotation. It’s used for political ideologies and movements that a
more extreme and exclusionary love of one’s country—at the expense of foreigners, immigrants, and
even people in a country who aren’t believed to belong in some way, often racial and religious grounds.
1. patriotic acts = (putem lăsa așa?) acte de patriotism
2. right under our nose = chiar sub nasul nostru
3. lighters = brichete
4. Capital goods = bunuri de capital
5. Entrepreneurship = spiritul antreprenorial
6. Otto von Bismarck
7. Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy
8. Professor Robert Paxton in The Anatomy of Fascism
9. The World Bank, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization = Banca Mondiala,
Naíunile Unite si Organizatia Mondiala a Comertului