NATIONALISM

Nationalism can be defined as a perceived identity of one’s self with a territorially organized
collectivity such as USA Japan and Pakistan.
Nationalism unites people of different classes and ideologies. It can create harmony, link our past
to our present and give a people a sense of identity. But nationalism is also a tool used by
dictators, despots and power-hungry politicians alike. It can create violent and mighty forces as
well as divide people from different geographies. It is used to exaggerate differences, foster
generalizations and cause discriminatory thinking. These two halves of nationalism can perhaps
best be viewed in the context of World War II. Churchill, Roosevelt and King used nationalism
to unite their nations against brutal enemies for the preservation of democratic civilization.
Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo exploited nationalism to fuel expansionist voracity the likes of which
the world had never seen before. Therefore, we observe from history that nationalism can be a
force for self-preservation, heroism and honor, or for vengeance, conquest, enslavement and
dishonor.
Nationalism has had an enormous influence on world history. In modern times, the nation-state
has become the dominant form of societal organization. Historians use the term nationalism to
refer to this historical transition and to the emergence and predominance of nationalist ideology.

HISTORY
Although nationalism is unique to the modern world, some of its elements can be traced
throughout history. The first roots of nationalism are probably to be found in the ancient
Hebrews, who conceived of themselves as both a chosen people, that is, a people as a whole
superior to all other peoples, and a people with a common cultural history. The ancient Greeks
also felt superior to all other peoples and moreover felt a sense of great loyalty to the political
community. These feelings of cultural superiority (ethnocentrism), which are similar to
nationalism, gave way to much more universal identifications under the Roman Empire and with
the Christian Church through its teaching of the oneness of humanity.

As strong centralized monarchies were built from petty feudal states, as regional languages and
art forms were evolved, and as local economies widened, popular identification with these
developments became increasingly strong. In areas such as Italy, which were not yet single
nations, recurring invasions led such thinkers as Niccolò Machiavelli to advocate national
political federation. The religious wars of the Reformation set nation against nation, though the
strongest loyalty continued to adhere to the sovereign. In the 16th and 17th century the
nationalistic economic doctrine of mercantilism appeared.

The growth of the middle classes, their desire for political power, and the consequent
development of democratic political theory were closely connected with the emergence of
modern nationalism. The theorists of the French Revolution held that people should establish
governments of equality and liberty for everyone. To them the nation was inseparable from the
people, and for the first time in history a people could create a government in accordance with
the nation's general will. Although their aims were universal, they glorified the nation that would
establish their aims, and nationalism found its first political expression.

POSITIVE ASPECTS OF NATIONALISM

Nationalism can vary from simply being national pride or patriotism (which are generally seen as
being positive attitudes) to rampant bigotry and parochialism whereby anything "foreign" is
vilified and rejected.

Generally, nationalism is used to describe the more negative concepts as opposed to the more
positive ones. Nationalism is linked either directly or implicitly to racism, racial conflicts and
bigotry whereby the population is indoctrinated to behave in frenzied and unquestioning manner.
However, if the word is used without judgment the positives are:

1) Patriotism and national pride. This is opposed to national apathy or even self hatred of ones
nation and its culture.

2) Civic pride whereby people consider the wellbeing of the nation to be important in their
everyday lives. JFK said it best when he pronounced "think not what your country can do for
you, think what you can do for your country".

3) A more cohesive society as long as nationalism is not linked to racial qualities. True positive
nationalism embraces newcomers and instills them with the same pride in their new homeland
that those born there already have.
AGGRESSIVE NATIONALISM
Aggressive nationalism is the extreme belief that one's home country is better and more
important than any other nation in the world. People who think this way are usually belligerent
in their beliefs

When a nation gets too much power and nationalism it may start to take over other nations. After
a couple of nations have been completely taken over, the nation becomes and Empire. An
Empire is defined as a state that extends dominion over populations and ethnically from the
center of power.

This is a list of nationalist conflicts. Clarification of which sort of nationalism is given after
some entries.

 Americas
o 1846–48 – Mexican–American War
o 1898 – Spanish–American War
o 1970 – Crise d'octobre
 Eurasia
o Baluchistan
 1948–present – Balochistan conflict against Pakistan and Iran
o China
 1900 – Boxer Rebellion: opposition to foreign influence
o Europe
 1914–18 – World War I
 1939–45 – World War II
 Balkans
 1821–28 – Greek War of Independence: independentist
 1912–13 – Balkan Wars: independentist
 1990–2000 – Yugoslav wars: independentist on the part of some,
ethnic on the part of others
 Chechnya
 1994–99 – First Chechen War: independentist
 Ireland
 1798 – 1798 rebellion: independentist
 1867 – Fenian Rising: independendist
 1916 – Easter Rising: independentist
 1919–20 – Irish War of Independence: independentist
 1969–2001 – Northern Ireland's Troubles: ethnic, also political and
religious
o Kurdistan
 19th century–present – Kurdish conflict against Turkey
  1915–present – Kurdish conflict against Iraq
o Sri Lanka
 1983–2009 – Sri Lankan Civil War: independendist
FASCISM
A social and political ideology with the primary guiding principle that the state or nation is the
highest priority, rather than personal or individual freedoms Fascists exalt violence, war, and
militarism as providing positive transformation in society, in providing spiritual renovation,
education, instilling of a will to dominate in people's character, and creating national
comradeship through the military service. Fascists view violence and war as actions that create
national regeneration, spirit and vitality.

NAZISM
NAZISM was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany. It was a unique
variety of fascism that involved biological racism and antisemitism. Nazism presented itself as
politically syncretic, incorporating policies, tactics and philosophies from right- and left-wing
ideologies; in practice, Nazism was a far right form of politics.

The Nazis believed in the supremacy of an Aryan master race and claimed that Germans
represent the most pure Aryan nation. They argued that Germany's survival as a modern great
nation required it to create a New Order — an empire in Europe that would give the German
nation the necessary land mass, resources, and expansion of population needed to be able to
economically and militarily compete with other powers.

The Nazis claimed that Jews were the greatest threat to the Aryan race and the German nation.
They considered Jews a parasitic race that attached itself to various ideologies and movements to
secure its self-preservation, such as: the Enlightenment, liberalism, democracy, parliamentary
politics, capitalism, industrialisation, Marxism and trade unionism.

To rescue Germany from the effects of the Great Depression, Nazism promoted an economic
Third Position; a managed economy that was neither capitalist nor communist. The Nazis
accused communism and capitalism of being associated with Jewish influences and interests.
They declared support for a nationalist form of socialism that was to provide for the Aryan race
and the German nation economic security, social welfare programs for workers, a just wage,
honour for workers' importance to the nation, and protection from capitalist exploitation.

NATIONALISM IS CONSIDERED THE CATALYST FOR BOTH MAJOR WARS.

WORLD WAR 1

In WWI, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, Heir-Apparent to the

Austro-Hungarian Empire by Yugoslav (Bosnia-Herzegovina) Nationalist Gavro Princip in 1914.
Princip was a member of the Nationalist group Young Bosnia, and that group, together with
another known as the Black Hand, was responsible for planning the assassination and planting
several assassins around Sarajevo, was the Archduke was killed. It was sheer happenstance that
the Archduke's car wound up near Princip, which gave him his opportunity. The route to be
taken to their destination had been changed, but he Archduke's driver did not get the word, and
followed the original route. When it was realized he was following the wrong plan, he was
reprimanded and ordered to follow the alternate route as ordered. In the course of turning the car
around, Princip was given the opportunity he needed, and killed the Archduke and his wife. The
assassination led to the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary on Serbia.
Though Ferdinand was not considered that important, the event nonetheless was believed my
most powers to require some type of response. Not interested in any compromises, Austria
declared war on Serbia, and within a month all major powers were involved in WWI. Along with
Nationalism, an arms race, and other political elements, the event is historically considered to be
the flash point for the start of WWI.

WORLD WARII

Nationalism and WWII are synonymous - the official name of the Nazi Party was the National
Socialist Democratic German Worker's Party. "Nazi" is derived from the German words for
National Socialism. The Treaty of Versailles, which concluded WWI, put many restrictions on
Germany in addition to having to pay many war reparations. In 1923, Hitler and other Nazi
leaders attempted a coup which has become known as the Beer Hall Putsch. Beer Halls in
Germany were the focal point of German gathering and places for speeches and other debates of
current events.

The coup failed, and Hitler was tried for Treason and imprisoned for a year. The trial, however,
gave him a national platform to present his views, and during his time in prison he wrote Mein
Kamp along with Rudolf Hess, who later became his right-hand man. Mein Kamp details Hitler's
views on how Nationalism could lead to the restoration of Germany as a world power. In the
years after WWI, German life was difficult for the average German, and the Weimar government
wasn't doing anything to correct it. When Hitler got out of prison in 1924, the Nazi Party began
its slow rise to power, with Hitler eventually becoming its leader. When he was asked to form a
government, Mein Kamp became widely read by most Germans, and the Hitler and the Nazis
promoted German Nationalism, with racial purity as its basis, to gain further control over
Germany. Hitler secretly began rearming Germany, and as German life got better, he gained
more popularity. Evenutally Germany became strong enough by secretly violating the terms of
the Versailles Treaty that when Hitler eventually decided to Annex Austria and invade Poland,
no one could stop the Nazis.
Hitler knew that weakened and demoralized societies are easily swayed by Nationalistic themes,
and he capitalized on that. Many leaders, good and bad, have learned from his example. Some of
the worst examples are Castro, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot FMNLF, and the Ayatollah Khomeini,
who used both religious and nationalistic themes to take over the government.

COLD WAR
In the West, the idea that your country, especially the US was better than everybody else was
common, in America, even by 'liberals' or whatever.

In the Soviet Union and China, while to Karl Marx, Nationalism was against Communism, and
something to avoid; in fact in the Communist countries, they were super-nationalists. The
Soviets claimed they were ahead of everybody in science and other things (the "Chekov"
character on "Star Trek", who claimed everything was a 'Russian Invention' was poking fun at
this part of the Soviet thinking of the Cold War, at least as seen by Americans) If you weren't
nationalistic, you weren't as likely to believe your country was always right, regardless of what
was done. You would not make sacrifices for your country and be willing to fight.

THE DANGERS OF NATIONALISM TODAY

Perhaps the most disturbing concern in modern times is the destructive potential of a nation that
has developed a strong ethos of both Nationalism and imperialism. The United States, as the
world's single superpower, remains unopposed militarily or culturally and risks creating a "super
race" where one group can dominate all those outside of their borders. Ironically, it was the
exploitative domination of British Imperialism that the United States fought so hard to escape
from and to assert its own right to independence.

The structure of the European Union was intended to unite Europe and create a new super power
that combined the strength of 25 member nations and would unite them with a common currency
and trading portal.

Churchill felt the need for a combined union as far back as 1945 and proposed a United States of
Europe in a speech in Zurich.

"The structure of a United States of Europe, if well and truly built, will be such as to make the
material single state less important. Small nations will count as much as large ones and gain
their honour by their contribution to the common cause." (Churchill)

Having faced incredible loss and suffering in WWI and WWII and a realisation of the problems
caused by the nationalist and imperialistic of European countries, one would think the lessons
were too recent for Europeans to forget the dangers and pitfalls of excesses.

There are many parallels that can be drawn from Germany pre World War II to the political
situation in the United States today. On Sept 11 2001 the US was attacked and had two of its
symbols of financial might destroyed. Much as the Reichstag fire was signified as the catalyst for
the German people into uniting to stand against a feared, but somewhat obscure, ideological
enemy of the state. The World Trade Centre attack provoked the Bush administration and
ultimately many Americans into adopting a "with us or against us" attitude to the rest of the
world. In the months following September 11, the United States saw a massive increase in
nationalism as evidenced by the huge increase of flag sales, and residences displaying flags on
their homes, cars, work places or anywhere they could.

Many protest that The Patriot Act allows the government far too much power to monitor the
movements and reading material of its people and gives unprecedented powers to investigative
agencies.

In 2003, the US proclaimed the right to pre-emptive action to protect its interest at home as well
as abroad. Acquiescence of a compliant and terrified population was easy to acquire; Lieven
notes how many Americans believed that Saddam Hussein was directly involved in the 9/11
attacks and this legitimised the war to being an act of self defence . Even in March 2004, 57% of
respondents in an NBC poll still believed that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.
ANALYSIS
Aggressive nationalism is all about glorifying your own country and degrading others.. It is the
feeling of superiority over others it has happened in different areas of the world. Whenever a
nation ascribes to itself a role that can only be fulfilled at the expense of other nations conflict
becomes inevitable.

History o f the twentieth century is filled with misfortunes by such nationalism and expansionist
movements, like world war1 and world war two. In world war one it was aggressive nationalism
that led to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Austria declared war on Serbia, and
within a month all major powers were a part of the Great War.

It was German nationalism that led to world war two. They felt insulted by The Treaty of
Versailles, and hence it gave rise to Nazism and Hitler. Hitler had great love for the Germans and
believed that Germans were a superior race and hence they had the right to rule the world. The
worst example of aggressive nationalism is the revenge taken by Germany. Hitler loathed Jews.
It started with Kristallnacht down to the Final Solution and execution of the systematic genocide
of European Jews during World War II, resulting in the most deadly phase of the Holocaust.
Mass killings of about one million Jews occurred before the plans of the Final Solution were
fully implemented in 1942, but it was only with the decision to eradicate the entire Jewish
population that the extermination camps were built and industrialized mass slaughter of Jews six
million Jews were killed. World war two divided the world into two parts on the basis of
communism and democracy. They thought they were better than each other but the use of the
atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in world war two played a great role in protecting the
world from another war.

After World War II nationalism in Asia and Africa spread at such a fast pace that dozens of new
"nations" were created from former colonial territorial holdings. Although interdependence and
global communications interconnected all nations by the 1990s, nationalism appears to have
grown more extreme with the breakup of the Soviet empire, the growth of Muslim
fundamentalism, and the collapse of Yugoslavia. Xenophobic, separatist movements are not
necessarily confined to newly independent states; they appear in many European nations and
Canada, as well as India, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and many others.
International organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of
American States, and the Organization for African Unity, represent attempts to curb extreme
nationalism, stressing cooperation among nations.

Even today we can see how aggressive nationalism plays a role in international relations like
Pakistan and India and Israel and Palestinian nationalism. Hating the other nation is not
patriotism it’s only about spreading hatred. It is human nature to have the feeling of nationalism
and it is nationalism that leads a nation to prosperity but aggressive nationalism is not good.