3. National Identity

Identity depends on the context

-e.g. european identity, national identity regional identity, group identity, personal identity

-different categories help locate oneself geographically and express membership

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National Identity

-refers to where individuals come from

-belonging to a group

-share values and traditions

-constructed

Nation (Benedict Anderson)

-nation= imagined community

-constructed sense of belonging (community), not based on personal acquaintance

-based on the assumption of shared traditions, values

-referring to the „imagined community“ means attempting to create sameness

Characteristics of a nation (Anderson)

-limited: nation has boundaries

e.g high mountains, large stretches of water (natural) or different languages (cultural)

-sovereign: nation is able to decide about its own affairs internally and to represent its interests to the outside world

e.g. institutions like parliaments (passing laws) or a prime minister (regulating external affairs)

→highlights its status as different from other nations

Auto-Image

-auto- image: self-image (of a nation itself)

(usually positive, helps construct the imagined community, creates unity, emphasised sameness)

Hetero-image

-hetero-image: image of others (nation has of other nations)

(can be negative, helps strengthen the imagined community via differences from others)

Typing

-assigning objects/people to categories

-objects/people can be in several categories simultaneously (depends on role/context)

→neutral practice, without value judgements

→helps make sense of the world

→shows complexity of identity (person fits in several categories)

-problem (stereotyping): people reduced to one category

Stereotyping

-focusing on few reductive but exaggerated traits

-fixed traits

-naturalised traits (seem to belong naturally to a person)

→marks person/object as different

→difference used to exclude

→dangerous when imbalance of power exists

Stereotyping and national identity

-hetero-images can have strong stereotypical elements (e.g. germans= on time; french= like wine)

-nations can construct their auto-image using stereotypes to differentiate themselves (e.g. excluding allegedly less smart nations)

-can be used against minorities within a nation

Summary