The term “nationalism” is generally used to describe two phenomena: (1) the
attitude that the members of a nation have when they care about their national
identity, and (2) the actions that the members of a nation take when seeking to
achieve (or sustain) self-determination. (1) raises questions about the concept
of a nation (or national identity), which is often defined in terms of common
origin, ethnicity, or cultural ties, and while an individual's membership in a
nation is often regarded as involuntary, it is sometimes regarded as voluntary.
(2) raises questions about whether self-determination must be understood as
involving having full statehood with complete authority over domestic and
international affairs, or whether something less is required.
1. What is a Nation?
1.1 The Basic Concept of Nationalism
Although the term “nationalism” has a variety of meanings, it centrally
encompasses the two phenomena noted at the outset: (1) the attitude that the
members of a nation have when they care about their identity as members of that
nation and (2) the actions that the members of a nation take in seeking to
achieve (or sustain) some form of political sovereignty. Each of these aspects requires elaboration. (1) raises questions about the concept of a nation or national identity, about what it is to belong to a nation, and about how much one ought to care about one's nation.
Nations and national identity may be defined in terms of common origin,
ethnicity, or cultural ties, and while an individual's membership in the nation
is often regarded as involuntary, it is sometimes regarded as voluntary. The
degree of care for one's nation that is required by nationalists is often, but
not always, taken to be very high: according to such views, the claims of one's
nation take precedence over rival contenders for authority and loyalty.
attitude that the members of a nation have when they care about their national
identity, and (2) the actions that the members of a nation take when seeking to
achieve (or sustain) self-determination. (1) raises questions about the concept
of a nation (or national identity), which is often defined in terms of common
origin, ethnicity, or cultural ties, and while an individual's membership in a
nation is often regarded as involuntary, it is sometimes regarded as voluntary.
(2) raises questions about whether self-determination must be understood as
involving having full statehood with complete authority over domestic and
international affairs, or whether something less is required.
1. What is a Nation?
1.1 The Basic Concept of Nationalism
Although the term “nationalism” has a variety of meanings, it centrally
encompasses the two phenomena noted at the outset: (1) the attitude that the
members of a nation have when they care about their identity as members of that
nation and (2) the actions that the members of a nation take in seeking to
achieve (or sustain) some form of political sovereignty. Each of these aspects requires elaboration. (1) raises questions about the concept of a nation or national identity, about what it is to belong to a nation, and about how much one ought to care about one's nation.
Nations and national identity may be defined in terms of common origin,
ethnicity, or cultural ties, and while an individual's membership in the nation
is often regarded as involuntary, it is sometimes regarded as voluntary. The
degree of care for one's nation that is required by nationalists is often, but
not always, taken to be very high: according to such views, the claims of one's
nation take precedence over rival contenders for authority and loyalty.