What is Nationalism?

00:03:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r_-jgQFAMc

Summary

TLDRNationalism is an ideology that emphasizes loyalty to the nation-state above other interests, advocating for national sovereignty and unity based on shared cultural and historical traits. It is divided into civic nationalism, which is inclusive and democratic, and ethnic nationalism, which focuses on ethnic identity and has been linked to historical atrocities. Three paradigms explain nationalism's origins: primordialism (nations have always existed), ethnosymbolism (nationalism evolves through symbols and traditions), and modernization theory (nationalism arises from modern socioeconomic changes).

Takeaways

  • 🌍 Nationalism prioritizes loyalty to the nation-state.
  • 📜 It promotes national sovereignty and unity.
  • 🤝 Civic nationalism is inclusive and democratic.
  • 🏴 Ethnic nationalism focuses on ethnic identity.
  • ⚖️ Nationalism can justify historical atrocities.
  • 🧩 Primordialism views nations as natural phenomena.
  • 🔍 Ethnosymbolism emphasizes symbols and traditions.
  • 🏙️ Modernization theory links nationalism to modern society.
  • 📚 Nationalism is shaped by culture, history, and language.
  • 🛡️ Nationalists argue for self-governance free from interference.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:03:31

    Nationalism is an ideology prioritizing loyalty to the nation-state over individual or group interests, promoting national sovereignty and self-governance. It seeks to establish a unified national identity based on shared cultural, ethnic, geographic, linguistic, political, religious, and historical traits, fostering national unity. Nationalism is categorized into civic nationalism, rooted in inclusionary values and linked to Rousseau's ideas during the French Revolution, and ethnic nationalism, associated with Hegel's concept of volksgeist, emphasizing ethnic identity and cultural heritage. Ethnic nationalism has been misused to justify atrocities like genocide. Three paradigms explain nationalism's origins: primordialism, which sees nations as natural; ethnosymbolism, which highlights the role of symbols and traditions; and modernization theory, which views nationalism as a product of modern socioeconomic changes.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is nationalism?

    Nationalism is an ideology that prioritizes loyalty to the nation-state over other interests.

  • What are the two main types of nationalism?

    The two main types are civic nationalism and ethnic nationalism.

  • Who is associated with civic nationalism?

    Civic nationalism is linked to French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

  • What does ethnic nationalism focus on?

    Ethnic nationalism focuses on belonging defined by ethnic identity, language, and culture.

  • What are the three paradigms of nationalism?

    The three paradigms are primordialism, ethnosymbolism, and modernization theory.

  • What is primordialism?

    Primordialism suggests that nations have always existed and nationalism is a natural phenomenon.

  • What does ethnosymbolism emphasize?

    Ethnosymbolism emphasizes the role of symbols, myths, and traditions in nationalism.

  • What does modernization theory propose?

    Modernization theory proposes that nationalism developed due to modern socioeconomic structures.

  • How has ethnic nationalism been misused historically?

    Ethnic nationalism has been used to justify ethnic cleansing and genocide.

  • What is the goal of nationalism?

    The goal of nationalism is to promote national unity and sovereignty.

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  • 00:00:03
    what is nationalism
  • 00:00:08
    broadly construed the term nationalism
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    refers to an ideology based on the
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    premise that the individual's loyalty
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    and devotion to the nation-state surpass
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    other individual or group interests
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    for this reason nationalism tends to
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    promote the interest of a particular
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    nation especially with the aim of
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    gaining and maintaining the nation's
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    sovereignty
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    this explains why the nationalists argue
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    that the nation should govern itself and
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    must be free from outside interference
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    thus for the nationalists the nation
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    must be the natural and ideal basis of a
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    polity
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    and that the nation must be the only
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    rightful source of political power
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    it must also be noted that nationalism
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    aims to build and maintain a single
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    national identifier based on a shared
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    social characteristic of culture
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    ethnicity geographic location language
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    politics religion traditions and shared
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    singular history
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    as well as to promote national unity or
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    solidarity historically the concept of
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    nationalism has been divided between
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    civic and ethnic nationalism
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    the former is linked to the ideas of the
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    french political philosopher zan jacques
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    rousseau in the context of the french
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    revolution
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    according to rousseau's civic
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    nationalism the nation is built on demos
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    the people and sovereignty thus belong
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    to the nation and the people
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    civic nationalism is grounded in
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    inclusionary values of freedom tolerance
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    and equality
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    the german philosopher johann gottfried
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    heder in contrast conceptualized
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    nationalism as a form of volksgeist a
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    unique spirit of an ethnic nation rooted
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    in their primeval characters where the
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    authentic people was linked to a
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    particular territory history and culture
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    such ethnic nationalism emerging in
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    germany and that influences
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    nation-building processes in both
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    eastern europe and scandinavia focused
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    on belonging defined by ethnic identity
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    language religion and similar traits
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    it is said to note that ethnic
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    nationalism has been mobilized to
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    justify ethnic cleansing genocide and
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    holocaust of jews roma and lgbt people
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    as in the cases of nazi germany and
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    mussolini's italy
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    lastly there are three paradigms for
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    understanding the origins and basis of
  • 00:02:38
    nationalism
  • 00:02:40
    first is primordialism sometimes
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    referred to as perennialism
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    this paradigm proposes that there have
  • 00:02:48
    always been nations and that nationalism
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    is a natural phenomenon
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    second is ethnosymbolism a paradigm
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    which views nationalism as a dynamic
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    evolutionary phenomenon and stresses the
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    importance of symbols myths and
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    traditions in the development of nations
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    and nationalism
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    and third is modernization theory
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    paradigm
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    this paradigm proposes that nationalism
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    is a more recent social phenomenon that
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    has developed due to socioeconomic
  • 00:03:19
    structures of modern society including
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    industrialization
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    urbanization
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    and mass education
Tags
  • nationalism
  • civic nationalism
  • ethnic nationalism
  • sovereignty
  • unity
  • primordialism
  • ethnosymbolism
  • modernization theory
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau
  • Johann Gottfried Herder