A Lover Letter to Nationalism
Nationalism tends to have a bad reputation. It shouldn’t. Today it is seen by many as people who blindly follow their country over justice and fairness.
Donald Trump, Brexit, the rise of nationalist governments in Europe has put nationalism back into the public debate but with limited understanding. Nationalism is seen as an evil. Of course it can be abused but the overarching concept of self-governing people to live in a specific territory should be welcomed.
Nationalism isn’t new, the concept is one that has gone for centuries. It is a concept based on love not hate. A love for your home and your own people. Language, culture, manners, rituals are just some of the things that can be specific to a country. It is something that can never be destroyed. We have seen governments, empires and authoritative leaders try but ultimately fail in destroying it.
Early adaptations of nationalism include Ancient Egypt which had a unified state, ruling an ethnically homogeneous people with a distinct culture, for thousands of years. Japan, Korea, China followed similar suit with Europe taking similar shape by the 12th century.
National attachment is vital to the functioning of political institutions as well to the structure of society. Nationalism on an individual level gives people the basic psychological need to belong — it…
