Difference between revisions of "Nationalism"
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Nationalism sees most social activity as national in character. All nations have national animals and a national motto. Most nations also have a shared history, a common religion (which may or may not be established by the state), a national cuisine, national heroes, and national myths. | Nationalism sees most social activity as national in character. All nations have national animals and a national motto. Most nations also have a shared history, a common religion (which may or may not be established by the state), a national cuisine, national heroes, and national myths. | ||
| − | Since the development of the nation-state, nationalism has become a huge influence on world events. The nation-state has become so common as a form of social organization, that mere belief that every [[nation]] should have | + | Since the development of the nation-state, nationalism has become a huge influence on world events. The nation-state has become so common as a form of social organization, that mere belief that every [[nation]] should have its own national state is no longer enough to win one the title of a nationalist in and of itself. Each nation-state exists not only to serve its people in a variety of ways but to guarantee the existence of the [[nation]], preserve its distinct identity, and provide a territory where the national values are dominant. It is only in a state that a [[nation]] exists in law and in the eyes of the world. |
Although almost all states function as nation-states, nationalists recognize that not all states are nation-states, or at least that not all states originated that way. [[Marlund]], for example, contains two distinct peoples who differ in racial background, in dialect, and in geographical location. [[The Resurgent Dream]] is made up of people who originated in at least 25 different nations. However, even states which are non-national in origin tend to move towards becoming nation-states, developing a shared history, adopting an ideology of unity flowing from diversity, and developing shared basic values as the source of a new national identity. | Although almost all states function as nation-states, nationalists recognize that not all states are nation-states, or at least that not all states originated that way. [[Marlund]], for example, contains two distinct peoples who differ in racial background, in dialect, and in geographical location. [[The Resurgent Dream]] is made up of people who originated in at least 25 different nations. However, even states which are non-national in origin tend to move towards becoming nation-states, developing a shared history, adopting an ideology of unity flowing from diversity, and developing shared basic values as the source of a new national identity. | ||
Revision as of 13:00, 1 June 2006
This article concerns Nationalism as it relates to Nationstates. For more general information, please see the Wikipedia article on the subject.
Nationalism is the belief that ethnically or culturally defined nations are the basic units of human (and usually non-human) civilization and that nations are the only legitimate basis for states. It can also refer the ideologies of various specific nationalist movements, usually calling for the independence of one nation from another, isolationism, or xenophobia. Sometimes a nationalist movement claims nationhood for a broader or narrower group than that normally defined as a nation. For example, some nationalists might claim to represent the black nation or even the human nation, even though both groups include many nationalities.
Principles of nationalism
Nationalists define individual nations on the basis of certain criteria, such as a shared culture, language, religion, set of values, racial or ethnic background, and geographical location. National identity refers to a nation's awareness of its own distinctiveness in these areas. Most nationalists consider membership in a nation to be involuntary and immutable.
Nationalism sees most social activity as national in character. All nations have national animals and a national motto. Most nations also have a shared history, a common religion (which may or may not be established by the state), a national cuisine, national heroes, and national myths.
Since the development of the nation-state, nationalism has become a huge influence on world events. The nation-state has become so common as a form of social organization, that mere belief that every nation should have its own national state is no longer enough to win one the title of a nationalist in and of itself. Each nation-state exists not only to serve its people in a variety of ways but to guarantee the existence of the nation, preserve its distinct identity, and provide a territory where the national values are dominant. It is only in a state that a nation exists in law and in the eyes of the world.
Although almost all states function as nation-states, nationalists recognize that not all states are nation-states, or at least that not all states originated that way. Marlund, for example, contains two distinct peoples who differ in racial background, in dialect, and in geographical location. The Resurgent Dream is made up of people who originated in at least 25 different nations. However, even states which are non-national in origin tend to move towards becoming nation-states, developing a shared history, adopting an ideology of unity flowing from diversity, and developing shared basic values as the source of a new national identity.
