PS130 World Politics Michael R. Baysdell Chapter 4: Nationalism
Nations, Nationalism, and Nation-States: Political Divisions in Global Politics 2 Most people have more than one political identity Nationalism–“most powerful political idea,” but not as dominant a political orientation as it used to be Transnational alternative orientations – Ch. 5 Now, let’s get some definitions…
NATIONS 3 Share demographic and cultural similarities: race, culture, language, ethnicity, etc. Sense of community: Recognition/belief in connectedness Want to control themselves politically: autonomous self-governance Intangible institutions
NATIONALISM 4 Separatist political impulse of a nation An ideology that holds that the nation should be the primary political identity of individuals A sense of essential political identity that dictates action in concert
Theories About the Origins of the State Force Theory Evolutionary Theory—primitive family leads to a clan, clan leads to a tribe, tribe gives up nomadic behavior Divine Right Theory—rule by the grace of God, etc. Social Contract Theory (Locke/Harrington/Hobbes/Rousseau)
NATION-STATES 6 In theory, the combination of state and nation, reflecting a nation’s desire to have its own state and to govern itself independently Rough definition: unified population that is roe than 90% of a state EX: Japan, South Korea In practice, many states contain multiple nations within their own borders and nations often overlap one or more state boundaries
The Rise and Ascendancy of Nationalism: Early Developments 7 Fall of Rome, Holy Roman Empire created groups of people who could choose to be separate Division of Western Christendom and fragmentation of European culture Rise of secular monarchs—King Henry VIII
The Rise and Ascendancy of Nationalism: Ascendant Modern Nationalism 8 Creation of a nationalistic popular culture Implication of the spreading notion of equality Concept of popular sovereignty, from Switzerland and England to American and French revolutions Changes in the political map–emergence of nation-states German, Italian, Austro-Hungarian, British/French Colonial, and USSR empires fall
The Rise and Ascendancy of Nationalism: Patterns of Nation-State Formation 9 Which comes first, the nation and nationalism or the nation-state? Examples both ways…. Unification nationalism: Italy, Germany, Japan State-building nationalism: Rwanda, Burundi Sometimes they evolve together: United States of America
Nationalism in Practice: Issues and Evaluation 10 Nation-states: more myth than reality Nationalism has a troubled face as well as a beneficent one The idea of self-determination may not always be a sound goal Microstates may not be large enough to function
Nation-States: More Myth Than Reality 11 Territorial boundaries of nations and states do not always coincide Lack of “fit” between nations and states is a significant source of international and domestic tension and conflict. Lack-of-fit patterns: Multinational States (Francophones and Anglophones in Canada, Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda) Multistate Nation (Koreans in North and South Korea, Albanians in Albania & Kosovo) Multiple nations, multiple states: 1 nation dominates more than 1 state (Afghanistan—failed state; North and South Vietnam) Nation is majority in 1 state and a minority in another (Albanians, Macedonians). Leads to Irredentism--any position advocating annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity or prior historical possession, actual or alleged Stateless Nation (Kurds, Palestinians). Whose fault?
Understanding the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 2200 years ago, Jews lived in Palestine Arabs attacked and defeated Jews; dispersed throughout world Zionist movement leads to 1917 Balfour Declaration World War II Nazi atrocities Homeland sought—where? UNSCOP Partitions Palestine, 1947 State of Israel declared, 1948
Wars of 1948/1956/1967/ : Consolidation of Independence 1956: Suez Crisis 1967: 6-day war 1973: “Yom Kippur” or “October” War
The Beneficial Face of Nationalism 14 Promotes democracy (self-determination, popular sovereignty), but can be manipulated by demagogues. Encourages self-determination Discourages imperialism: Serves as a powerful deterrent to outside rule but can encourage expansionist tendencies. (East Timor) Promotes economic development Protects diversity and experimentation: This seems true when considering interactions between nation-states, but it can also suppress diversity within a state
The Troubled Face of Nationalism 15 Intensity and magnitude of ethnonational conflicts remain high (See Figure 4.2) Leads to the lack of concern for others, xenophobia, internal oppression, and external aggression Reluctance to help others; exclusionism Negative nationalism –“exceptionalism”–feeling superior to or even hating others Internal Oppression: Bosnians over Kosovars, Janjaweed over Black Africans in Sudan Can lead to imperialism—Czarist Russia taking over Ukraine “The de facto role of the US armed forces will be to keep the world safe for our economy and open to our cultural assault. To those ends, we will do a fair amount of killing” --Ralph Peters
Self-Determination as a Goal 16 Positive Aspects: Can help end ethnic oppression Problems and Concerns: Untangling groups Dissolution of existing states Microstates: "Negative sovereignty" invites intervention by more powerful Is there a right to secede? Applying self-determination principles is difficult in a complex world 1/3 of countries have populations smaller than Los Angeles Leads to questions about diplomatic recognition--legation
The Predicted Demise of Nationalism: The Lessons of World War II 17 Experiences of destructive power of nationalism (Fascism) Development of nuclear weapons Emphasis on free trade and economic interdependence
Nationalism and the Future 18 Continued strength of nationalism: Between 1940 and 2003, the number of states increased 272% BUT, nationalism may evolve toward internationalism, although at a slow pace at best; no immediate prospects for change On other hand, nationalism may continue to advance at a rapid pace with the increasing struggle for dwindling fossil fuel energy resources Still the primary source of political identification but constantly being challenged
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES 19 After reading this chapter, students should be able to: 1. Define nationalism. 2. Identify the elements that make up a nation. 3. Describe how a nation differs from a state. 4. Identify and explain the ideal concept of nation-state and its relationship to nationalism. 5. Explain nationalism as the product of historical development. 6. Identify the ideal and actual relationships between nation and state. 7. Define multistate nationalities and explain when they occur. 8. Discuss why nationalism is said to be both a cohesive and a divisive force. 9. List and discuss positive and negative aspects of nationalism. 10. Discuss the origins of microstates and the problems that their existence presents to the state-centric system. 11. Identify arguments predicting the end of nationalism and the demise of the territorial state, and note post–World War II trends that have contradicted these predictions. 12. Explain the place of nationalism and the nation-state in today’s world where transnational and other structures and identifications are also increasing in scope and intensity.