To what extent does nationalism divide rather than unite societies
Introduction
The idea of Nationalism was born during the French Revolution
Previously, political identity was formed by an allegiance to a ruler rather than a sense of
patriotism; love of one’s country
Revolutionaries in France were influenced by Rousseau’s self-determination beliefs and rose
up in the name of the French nation
I argue that expansionist and conservative nationalists divide societies, whilst liberal and
cultural nationalists unite societies.
However, overall, nationalism creates more divisions than unifications as it is more of an
exclusive ideology
I shall analyse my argument in this essay.
Nationalism unites societies
Cultural nationalism
- Black Nationalism in the USA, which has been advanced by people such as Marcus
Garvey and groups such as the Black Panthers
- By promoting Black pride, it encourages Africans to be proud of their own race, which
unifies Africans and gives them a sense of belonging
- China’s state officials have been promoting Chinese values, to unify China
- 1000 Confucius Institutes globally
Liberal nationalists believe that the achievement of self-determination is a way of
establishing a stable world order
- Mazzini formed the organisation, ‘Young Italy’ to promote the idea of a united Italy
- Democratic nation states would respect the national sovereignty of their neighbours and
have no incentive to wage war
- Nationalism doesn’t divide nations from one another but promotes unity within each
nation and brotherhood among all nations on the basis of mutual respect for human
rights
Liberal nationalists such as Rousseau believed in civic nationalism; when an individual
formally joins a nation and agreed to obey the laws of that land, they were a member of that
nation
Nationalism divides societies
Expansionist nationalists believe that one’s own nation is superior to other nations
- This was seen in European imperialism which was justified by cultural and racial
superiority
- Europeans viewed colonial people as the ‘white man’s burden’
- Imperialism brought benefits of civilisation to the ‘less fortunate’
- UK had colonies in Malaysia and some parts of Africa
- Superiority, so no equality
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller shims. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £9.39. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
