Nationalism: Core Ideas & Principles (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

The core ideas of nationalism

• Nationalism is a political ideology centred on the belief that people are bound together through a shared identity and that this identity should be reflected in political organisation

• Nationalists argue that nations provide individuals with a sense of belonging and collective purpose, and that political power should be exercised in the interests of the nation

Nations

• For nationalists, the existence of nations is central, as nations create a sense of belonging among people bound by shared identity, history and culture

  • This creates a collective identity

    • Often centred on citizenship, language and traditions

    • This shared identity can form a collective consciousness

  • Nations are often self-defined by those within them

    • Shared identity may be based on geography, ethnicity, language or culture

  • This can lead to conflict

    • Particularly where self-identified nations overlap with one another

Key thinkers

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Advocated national identity as essential for collective sovereignty

• Argued sovereignty originates from the general will

• Viewed nations as civic rather than ethnic

Charles Maurras

• Argued nations arise from a shared cultural understanding

• Emphasised hierarchy and order within the nation

Johann Gottfried von Herder

• Argued each nation has a unique ‘volksgeist’ or national spirit

• Emphasised the role of language and traditions

Self-determination

• For nationalists, self-determination is crucial for deciding how nations should be run

  • It refers to political autonomy

    • Nations should be self-governing without external control

  • This includes democratic participation

    • The people exercise power through national institutions

  • Citizens have a right to sovereignty

    • They should be able to establish independent governments to oversee the nation

• Self-determination challenges imperialism and domination

  • It implies resistance to oppression by external powers

Key thinkers

Giuseppe Mazzini

• Advocated self-rule, particularly in the unification of Italy

• Argued citizens have a moral duty to their nation

Marcus Garvey

• Promoted Black self-determination

• Argued the African diaspora should achieve political autonomy

Nation-state

• The nation-state refers to the geographical and political expression of the nation and should not be confused with the nation itself

  • It is an area of legal sovereignty

    • The state exercises authority over a defined territory

  • Within this territory, people are granted citizenship and rights

    • Legal frameworks define:

      • state membership

      • the duties of citizens

  • Nation-states are internationally recognised

    • They exist within a system of global legitimacy

Key thinkers

Giuseppe Mazzini

• Linked national identity to political independence

• Argued every nation should have its own state

Charles Maurras

• Argued the nation-state was essential for:

  • order

  • hierarchy

  • tradition

Marcus Garvey

• Emphasised the need for self-governed African states

• Linked statehood to liberation and autonomy

Culturalism

• Nationalists share a belief that a shared culture is central to understanding the nation

• Shared culture includes:

  • language

  • traditions

  • arts

  • religion

• Culture helps define and shape national identity

  • It provides continuity between past, present and future generations

• Some nationalists argue national culture must be protected from external influence

  • They believe culture is what holds the nation together

• Cultural pride is important

  • A shared collective memory creates cohesion and unity

• Culturalism can be associated with racialism

  • Through expectations that citizens adhere to dominant cultural norms and values

Key thinkers

Johann Gottfried von Herder

• Argued nations are defined by a shared ‘volksgeist’

• Emphasised language and culture as the essence of the nation

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Emphasised a civic culture

• Argued participation and shared values support national cohesion

Charles Maurras

• Argued traditional culture sustains national identity

• Believed adherence to tradition prevents fragmentation of the state

Racialism

• Racialism is the belief held by some nationalists that nations are created by people who share a common biology

  • It should not be confused with racism, which argues for a hierarchy of races

  • Some nationalists define the nation in biological or ethnic terms

    • Race is seen as central to maintaining national character

  • There is an underlying belief that members of a race share common characteristics

    • These characteristics are used to define national identity

Key thinkers

Charles Maurras

• Advocated ethnic-based nationalism in France

• Argued shared ancestry was central to national identity

Marcus Garvey

• Promoted racial pride as a form of empowerment

• Used shared racial identity to mobilise the African diaspora politically

Internationalism

• For some nationalists, a belief in internationalism is fundamental to understanding relations between nations

  • Internationalism supports global cooperation

    • Nations should engage in diplomacy, trade and treaties

  • It emphasises peace and coexistence

    • Cooperation can prevent war

    • Sovereignty of other nations should be respected

• Liberal internationalism

  • Supports international cooperation

  • Emphasises respect for self-determined nations

• Socialist internationalism

  • Argues the interests of the working class transcend national boundaries

  • Class solidarity can form the basis for international cooperation

Key thinkers

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Advocated collective peace between states

• Supported international cooperation to avoid conflict

Marcus Garvey

• Argued for Pan-African internationalism

• Promoted solidarity between African-descended peoples across national borders

Charles Maurras

• Was sceptical of internationalism

• Viewed it as a threat to national culture and cohesion