Lecture 15: Nationalism I

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Lecture 15 Nationalism I
1. Defining Nationalism 2. The Roots Of
Nationalism State Loyalty 3. Causes Of
Nationalism A) Industrialization B) Elite
Manipulation C) Primordial D) Class
Conflict 4. Nationalism And The Sovereign
State 5. Problems Associated With
Nationalism 6. War And Nationalism
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Discussion
What is nationalism? What criteria do you use
to determine if someone is a member of a
nation? How does nationalism differ from
patriotism? How does nationalism differ from
ethnic conflict? Is nationalism a good thing?
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Nationalism
1. What is Nationalism? 2. The Ideal Type Of
Nationalism -- Political And Ethnic Boundaries
Overlap -- A Homogeneous State 3. Problem
Most States Are Heterogeneous -- Ethnic
Loyalties Versus National Loyalties 4.
Heterogeneity Is Not Just A Developing World
Problem -- UK, Spain, Belgium, And
Switzerland -- Former Yugoslavia And Soviet Union
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Nationalism Sources Of Confusion
1. Often Hard To Define Nations In Precise
Way 2. Causes Of Nationalism Cause Ethnic
National Loyalty 3. Term Nation-states Is
Usually Misleading 4. Term Nation Applied To
Both Ethnic National Groups 5. Erroneously
View Ethnic Loyalty As Primitive Impulse And
Nationalism As Positive Force
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Roots Of Nationalism State Loyalty
1. Shift In Loyalty From Family, Community, And
Religion To The State 2. Explaining The
Shift A) Reformation And Counter
Reformation B) Increasing Interdependence Of
The World C) State Promises The Good Life
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Causes Of NationalismIndustrialization (Gellner)
1. In Pre-industrial Past Loyalties Are To Family
Village 2. Horizontal Cleavages Versus
Vertical Cleavages 3. Industrialization --
Migration From Village To Cities -- Greater
Division Of Labor -- Greater Social
Mobility 4. Need New Glue To Hold Society
Together 5. Key Role Of Literacy
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Industrialization and the Rise of Nationalism
INDUSTRIALIZATION
LITERACY
SOCIAL MOBILITY
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
NATIONALISM
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Unique Features Of Gellners Explanation
1. Nationalism Emerges From Domestic
Competition A) Many Regional Cultures Vie For
Dominance B) Very Slow Evolution C)
Homogenization Process 2. Nationalism Is
Inevitable Product Of Industrialization -- But
Regional Winner Is Not Clear 3. Number Of
Nations Is Potentially Unlimited
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Causes Of NationalismElite Manipulation
1. Eric Hobsbawm Nation As Invented
Tradition 2. Elites Create Myth Of Nation To
Pursue Self Interest -- Public Schools For
Socialization -- Ceremonies, Monuments, And
Symbols 3. Motives Of Elite A) Nationalism
Serves As The Cement Of Society B) Defense
Against Competing Ideologies C) Allows Greater
Extraction Of Resources D) Reinforces Legitimacy
Of Ruling Regime
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Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the Republic for which
it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
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Causes Of NationalismPrimordial
1. Primordial Attachment To Place Of
Birth Emotional Bond And An Instinctive
Response 2. Reject Industrialization And Elite
Manipulation Arguments 3. Several Problems With
Primordial Approach A) Nations Have Not Always
Existed e.g., Slovak B) Culture Is A
Variable C) Neglects Role Of Nationalist
Entrepreneurs D) Implies Number Of Nations Is
Fixed
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Causes Of NationalismHidden Class Conflict
1. Marxist Approach 2. Nations Are Artificial
Constructs 3. Masks Class Conflict Within
Societies 4. Hinders Development Of Global
Working Class 5. The Soviet Union The First
Communist State
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Discussion
Which Approach is Most Useful?

• Industrialization
• Elite Manipulation
• Primordial
• Class Conflict

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Nationalism And The Sovereign State
1. The Peace Of Westphalia Privileging The
Sovereign State 2. Founders Of System Would Have
Been Appalled A) Many Hold Geographically
Dispersed Territory B) Many Led Heterogeneous
States C) Leaders Were Transnational Elite D)
Leaders Were Members Of Aristocracy
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Problems With Nationalism
1. Big Problems For Empires 2. Problems For
Minority Groups 3. Problems For Ethnic Nationals
Abroad 4. Problems With Timing A) Creation Of
State Before Emergence Of Nation B) Creation Of
State After Emergence Of Nations
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War And Nationalism
1. Thirty Years War Creation Of Westphalian
System 2. Ever Larger Armies Require
Conscription 3. External Threats And The Rally
Around The Flag Effect 4. Nationalism Has
Caused Many Wars (e.g., Hitlers Demand For A
Greater Germany) 5. Nationalism Exacerbates The
Security Dilemma
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Conclusion

• Kedourie Nationalism Is Evil And Avoidable
• Idealist Nationalism Undermines Human Bonds
• Gellner Nationalism Neither Evil Nor Avoidable
• Nationalism Is An Identity
• -- Construction Of A European Or Human
  Identity?