Nationalism: a force that unites and divides
Nationalism is a feeling of belonging to a nation and the political ideas and movements built on it.
- It united small states into bigger ones, such as Germany and Italy in the 19th century.
- It inspired anti-colonial freedom struggles in Asia and Africa, including India's.
- It also broke up large empires (Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman) and in some places led to hatred, wars and violence against minorities.
So nationalism is neither simply good nor simply bad. The question is what kind of nationalism it is.
What is a nation?
A nation is different from a family or tribe (where people know one another) and is not a physical object. It is a community that exists because its members believe they belong together. Commonly shared features:
- Shared belief: the will to live together as one nation.
- History: a shared sense of the past, stories and memories that give a common identity.
- Territory / homeland: a land people see as their shared home. (Claims to the same land by different groups can lead to conflict.)
- Shared political ideals: a common vision of the state, like democracy, secularism and rights.
- Common political identity: citizens see themselves as members of one political community.
Not required: one religion, one language or one ethnic group. Trying to force these can hurt minorities. India's nationhood rests on shared democratic values, not one culture.
National self-determination
Self-determination is a nation's claim to govern itself and decide its own future, usually through its own state.
- In 19th-century Europe the idea 'one culture, one state' redrew boundaries, often with huge movements of people and violence.
- After the Second World War, colonies in Asia and Africa claimed self-determination and became free states.
- Problem: almost every state has many cultural groups. If every group demanded its own state, there would be endless splits.
- Better answer today: democratic states can meet such claims by giving groups rights, recognition and autonomy (for example, special provisions, language rights, regional self-government) rather than separation.
Nationalism and pluralism
Pluralism means accepting and respecting many cultures, languages and religions within one society.
- A democratic nation should give rights to minorities: to keep their language, culture and religion and to run their own institutions.
- It should build a shared civic identity based on the Constitution, while letting people keep other identities.
- Forcing one culture on all often creates anger and separatism; respecting diversity makes people feel at home and keeps the nation united.
India's Constitution follows this path: many languages are recognised, minorities have cultural and educational rights, and the nation is described as a union of states. Healthy nationalism is inclusive, not aggressive.
Exam tips
Citizenship and Nationalism together carry about 8 marks. Common questions: features of a nation, why a nation is an 'imagined' community, meaning and problems of self-determination, and how nationalism can go with pluralism. Use India's unity in diversity as your main example.
Try it at home
Ask three family members: 'What makes you feel Indian?' Note their answers. Sort them into belief, history, homeland, ideals and identity. Did anyone say one language or religion? Discuss why India does not need that.
Key formulas and definitions
- Nationalism: sense of belonging to a nation and movements built on it.
- Nation: a community of people who believe they belong together.
- Features: shared belief, history, homeland, political ideals, political identity.
- Self-determination: a nation's claim to govern itself.
- Autonomy: self-rule for a group inside a larger state.
- Pluralism: respect for many cultures, languages and faiths in one society.
Worked examples
1. Give one example each of nationalism uniting and dividing.
Uniting: small states joining into Germany and Italy in the 19th century, or India's freedom struggle bringing people together. Dividing: the break-up of large empires after the First World War.
2. Why is a nation called a community based on belief?
Members of a nation never meet most other members, yet they feel they belong together. The nation exists because of this shared belief and imagination, not because of a physical feature.
3. Does India need one language to be a nation?
No. India is united by shared history, homeland, democratic ideals and political identity. Many languages are recognised; forcing one could hurt unity.
4. A cultural group demands its own separate state. What alternative can a democracy offer?
It can offer rights and recognition: language and cultural rights, special provisions and regional autonomy, so the group can govern many of its affairs within the country.
5. How can nationalism become harmful?
When it claims one culture is superior, forces it on minorities or turns against other nations, it can lead to hatred, discrimination and war.
Common mistakes
- Thinking a nation must have one religion or one language.
- Treating nation and state as always the same thing. A state is a political organisation; a nation is a community of belief.
- Thinking self-determination always means a separate state. It can be met through autonomy and rights.
- Thinking pluralism weakens a nation. Respect for diversity usually strengthens unity.