5. Nationalism

• Nationalism is a sense of common cultural identity which may be based upon a range of factors e.g. language, religion, race, history or territory
• Often seeks to defend or establish a nation-state e.g. Plaid Cymru, IRA & NoI
• Sense of cultural history & tradition. Claim a specific territory as a homeland
• Flexible ideology
• Three dimensions to national identity: cultural, political & psychological
• Originated with the French Revolution
• Many states are multi-national

The State:

• Is a sovereign, political power over a given territory
• Most states are multi-national

A Nation:

• Is a cultural entity - sometimes described as a "psycho-political construct"
• May be landless or dispersed across many states

The Nation-State:

• Is the aim of most nationalist movements
• Is where the common cultural group equates with a sovereign political unit
• Methods include unification (Germany), secession (Ireland), irredentism (Spain & Gibraltar), or replacement of a foreign for an indigenous leadership (Palestine vs. Israel)

Liberal Nationalism

• Associated with the French Revolution & Enlightenment
• Nations deserve freedom, autonomy & self-determination
• Peaceful, constitutional & reformist
• Embraces internationalism & supranational bodies (condtradictory)
• E.g. SNP; Plaid Cymru

Conservative Nationalism

• 19th century onwards
• Cultural unity, patriotism & emotional attachment to the traditional symbols of the state e.g. flag; monarchy as sources of social stability & cohesion

Chauvinist Nationalism

• Expansionist, aggressive, militarist & ethnocientric
• Embodies a sense of cultural superiority
• E.g. Iraq's expansionism under Saddam Hussein

Anti-Colonial Nationalism

• 20th century onwards
• Found mainly in LEDCs
• Often combines seeking independence with economic modernisation 
• E.g. India, Cuba under Fidel Castro

Political Nationalism

• Defined by the principle of self-determination
• May be liberal, communist or chauvinist

Cultural Nationalism

• Associated with the defence of a nation's heritage
• Emphasises the regeneration of a nation as a distinctive civilisation
• May evolve into political nationalism e.g. the Welsh Assembly

What is Racialism?

• The idea that humans can be categorised into ethnic or biological castes, and that these groups can be ranked into a hierarchy
• E.g. South African apartheid; Nazis; American Black Power Movement
• Justifies patterned racial discrimination, separation, exile or genocide
• Has been used to justify & legitimise economic & political power of one group over others
• Highlihts the core libera dilemma - how far to tolerate intolerence

Distinctions:

• Importance of culture vs. biology
• Racialism invariably asserts hierarchy, therefore it is viewed as right-wing. Nationalism is more flexible & compatible with other ideologies

Similarities:

• The two concepts are sometimes used interchangeably e.g. the BNP tend to define "Britishness" in terms of ethnicity than by external cultural symbols & attachments
• The two ideologies do overlap: Nationalism (SNP) => Racial-nationalism (Fascism) => National-racism (Nazism) => Racism (KKK)

Nations: Cultural entities; A group of people who share a sense of common culture

Races: Genetically defined; A group of people who are perceived to share a common biological identity & are regarded as having physical similarities