6: Nationalism
- Page ID
- 290178
This page is a draft and is under active development.
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\dsum}{\displaystyle\sum\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\dint}{\displaystyle\int\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\dlim}{\displaystyle\lim\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\(\newcommand{\longvect}{\overrightarrow}\)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Introduction
Nationalism is a political principle according to which political and cultural boundaries should be congruent. As Michael Hechter puts it: “nationalism is collective action designed to render the boundaries of the nation, a territorially concentrated and culturally distinctive solidary group, congruent with those of its governance unit, the agency responsible for providing the bulk of public goods within the nation’s territory” (Hechter, 2000, p. 7). A nationalist movement is a movement that aims to implement this congruence. Whereas liberalism sees free and rational individuals as the core constitutive unit of their worldview and Marxism sees relations between classes as the motor of history, nationalism sees nations as the most important political force and the nation as a concrete historical entity.
AI generated
The provided text presents a comprehensive academic overview of nationalism, defining it as the drive to align political borders with cultural identities. It examines prominent modernist theories, such as those by Gellner and Anderson, which link the rise of nations to industrialization and print capitalism, alongside ethnosymbolic perspectives that emphasize pre-modern ethnic roots. Beyond historical origins, the sources explore "banal nationalism," or the subtle ways daily routines and symbols reinforce national belonging. Different categories are analyzed, including the classic civic versus ethnic divide, as well as contemporary forms like diaspora, homeland, and national populism. The material also traces historical waves of state-building from the French Revolution to modern independence movements, using the case of Quebec to illustrate these dynamics. Ultimately, the text characterizes nationalism as a highly adaptable ideology that remains a primary force in global politics and personal identity.
- Discuss the various theories of nationalism.
- Distinguish between the various types of nationalism.
- Review the different waves of nationalism.
AI generated
Based on the provided chapter, here are five learning objectives designed to help you master the key concepts of nationalism:
- Compare and contrast modernist and ethnosymbolic theories of nationalism, identifying how factors like industrialization, "print capitalism," and "ethnic cores" contribute to the formation of nations.
- Differentiate between various typologies of nationalism, moving from the classic civic-ethnic divide to contemporary categories such as homogenizing, state-seeking, homeland, and diaspora nationalism.
- Explain the concept of "banal nationalism" and analyze how everyday symbols—such as "unwaved flags"—and daily routines reinforce national belonging and social reproduction.
- Analyze the historical evolution of nationalism through its major waves, from the French Revolution and the 1848 "Spring of the People" to the post-Cold War era and the modern rise of national populism.
- Evaluate the case study of Quebec to illustrate the dynamics of state-seeking nationalism and how political movements can successfully transform a group’s collective identity.
- 6.1: Modernist and Ethnosymbolic Theories
- This section explores the origins of nations through two main academic lenses . Modernist theorists like Ernest Gellner and Benedict Anderson argue that nations are products of industrialization and "print capitalism," which necessitated standardized languages and mass education to create unified, "imagined communities" . In contrast, ethnosymbolists like Anthony D. Smith contend that while nations are modern, they are built upon pre-existing "ethnic cores"—the shared myths, symbols, and memorie
- 6.2: Shifting Focus From Sociohistorical and Macro-Sociological Perspectives to Meso and Microsociological Analyses
- Moving beyond macro-history, this section examines how nationalism functions in daily life . It introduces Michael Billig’s concept of "banal nationalism," which describes how everyday, often unnoticed symbols (like "unwaved flags") and routines unconsciously reinforce national identity . Rogers Brubaker further contributes to this shift by suggesting we view nationhood as a "category of practice"—a perspective through which people see the world—rather than just a fixed group.
- 6.3: The Ethnic-Civic Opposition and Its Limitations
- This section details the classic distinction between civic nationalism (based on shared political values and equality before the law) and ethnic nationalism (based on shared language, culture, and heritage) . While this divide is a common analytical tool, the sources note its limitations, as even "civic" institutions are rarely culturally neutral, and states often shift between these types over time.
- 6.4: Contemporary Typologies
- To better reflect modern complexities, researchers have developed new categories of nationalism . These include homogenizing nationalism (state-led integration), state-seeking nationalism (groups desiring their own sovereign state), homeland nationalism (states intervening for ethnic kin in neighboring countries), diaspora nationalism (practices of those living outside their perceived homeland), and national populism (right-wing movements that pit "the people" against "elites" and "foreigners").
- 6.5: Types of Nationalism- The Case of Quebec
- Quebec serves as a case study for state-seeking nationalism . The section traces its evolution from the 19th-century patriotes to the 20th-century Révolution tranquille and the sovereignty referendums of 1980 and 1995 . Although these movements did not result in an independent state, they successfully transformed the collective identity of the population from "French Canadians" to "Quebecers".
- 6.6: Nationalism in Time and Space
- Nationalism is reviewed through several historical waves, starting with the French and American Revolutions . Subsequent waves include the 1848 "Spring of the People," late 19th-century state unifications (e.g., Germany and Italy), post-WWI imperial fragmentation, 1960s decolonization, and the post-Cold War era . The current wave is defined by the rise of national populism, which offers "ontological security" and simple answers in an increasingly chaotic world.
- 6.7: Conclusion
- The chapter concludes by highlighting nationalism as an undeniably successful and malleable modern ideology that has spread across the globe . Despite frequent predictions of its decline, nationalism continues to resonate during times of crisis, serving as a powerful force that links an "ambiguous past" to visions of a "better future".
Attribution
Frédérick Guillaume Dufour and Dave Poitras, "Nationalism: A Modern Ideology Summoning an Eternal Past" CC BY-NC 4.0.