Nationalism

Political as well as cultural concept of the modern age.

In a wider sense the term refers to a set of ideas emphasizing and promoting the power, authority and identity of a perceived community of people – a nation. Yet, since the criteria for membership of a nation are commonly defined politically (e.g. according to a sense of shared citizenship within distinct borders) or culturally (e.g. by means of a common ethnic background and/or cultural heritage such as language) a clear-cut and succinct definition of nationalism is complicated due to the socio-cultural constructedness and criterial relativity of the concept of ‘nation’: “Given the disputed nature of the nation in political and cultural theory, it is hardly surprising that a universally accepted theory of nationalism remains elusive” (Edgar/Sedgwick 2008: 221).

Origin

Although there had been nationalist-related ideas in the ancient world, the concept of nationalism did not emerge until the development of the modern state in Europe and North America. Nationalist thought is considered to have coincided with the American Declaration of Independence (1776) and the French Revolution (1789) (ibid.).

Definition Attempts

1. In a rather neutral-descriptive sense nationalism signifies an endeavour to tie, strengthen and mobilize a community of people to form an integrated nation.

2. In a critical sense nationalism denotes a striving for increasing and promoting the power of a certain nation as it is considered superior (Schmidt 2004: 471).

Nationalist belief includes e.g. the following assumptions: (Edgar/Sedgwick 2008: 221)

1. A natural right to autonomy for the nation

2. Freedom as the common framework for the people’s actions

3. The presupposition of a shared identity of the nation’s members

Contextual Integration

In the wake of Thatcherism during the early 1980s the concept of nationalism underwent a certain rebirth in Great Britain as Margaret Thatcher tried to reinforce the nation’s position in the world (Maurer 2007: 466-467). In particular the renewed imperial aggression against Argentina and throughout the Falkland mission hint at the attempt to re-establish Great Britain as a world power after WWII depressions and to re-awake nationalist feelings among the British people (ibid.).

Bibliography:

Edgar, Andrew / Sedgwick, Peter (eds.). Cultural Theory. The Key Concepts. London: [publishing house??], 2008.

Maurer, Michael. Kleine Geschichte Englands. Stuttgart: Reclam, 2007.

Schmidt, Manfred G. Wörterbuch zur Politik. Stuttgart: Kröner, 2004.