Chapter 6 - Politics 6th Edition

Nation

a group of people bound together by a common language, religion, history and traditions, a group of people who regard themselves as a natural political community, classically expressed through the quest for sovereign statehood.

Ethnic group

A group of people who share a common cultural and historical identity, typically linked to a belief in common descent.

Volksgeist

(German) Literally, the spirit of the people; the organic identity of a people reflected in their culture and, particularly, their language.

Culturalism

The belief that human beings are culturally defined creatures, culture being the universal basis for personal and social identity.

Cultural nationalism

Definition of the nation by a shared culture, especially language, religion, historical and geographic ties, music, literature, cuisine, etc.

Ethnic nationalism

A closed concept of nationalism that is derived through descent from previous generations.

Racialism

Any belief or doctrine that draws political or social conclusions from the idea that humankind is divided into biologically distinct races.

National self-determination

The principle that the nation is a sovereign entity; self-determination implies both national independence and democratic rule.

Universalism

The theory that there is a common core to human identity shared by people everywhere.

Human rights

Rights to which people are entitled by virtue of being human; universal and fundamental rights.

Internationalism

The theory or practice of politics based on transnational or global cooperation.

Patriotism

A sentiment, a psychological attachment to one's nation (a 'love of one's country'). Often confused with 'nationalism'.

Euroscepticism

Opposition to further European integration, usually not extending to the drive to withdraw from the EU (anti-Europeanism).

Jingoism

A mood of public enthusiasm and celebration provoked by military expansion or imperial conquest.

Irredentism

A policy of advocating the return of former territories to a nation, usually those with strong historical, cultural and linguistic ties.

Race

Physical or genetic differences amongst humankind that supposedly distinguish one group of people from another on biological grounds.

Pan-nationalism

A style of nationalism dedicated to unifying a disparate people through either expansionism or political solidarity ('pan' means all or every).

Colonialism

The theory or practice of establishing control over a foreign territory and turning it into a 'colony'. A particular form of imperialism, it is usually distinguished by settlement and by economic domination.