identity, nationalism, and foreign policy

what is in-group favoritism?

random categorization into groups is enough to trigger a preference for one’s own group over others

what is the social identity theory? (SIT)

people want self-esteem from certain groups they belong to, not just individual traits

what are the 3 groups of the social identity theory?

categorization (us v.s. them)

identification (becoming apart of the group)

comparison (favoring the group over others)

what is an imagined community?

a nation that will never meet (is imagined), are limited with finite borders, sovereign (self-ruling), and have horizontal solidarity

what factors make imagined communities possible?

print capitalism, shared vernacular language, and the decline of kingship

what is the functional requirement of imagined communties?

industrial economies needed large, literate, culturally homogenous workforces that could be moved between jobs and locations

what is ethno-symbolism?

modern nations use myths, symbols, and shared memories to generate modern nation building

ex: korea’s founding myth with bears and garlic

what is patriotism?

affection and pride for one’s nation, does not predict external hostility

what is nationalism?

a belief in one’s nation being superior over other and the right to dominate, predicts hostility and militarism

what is blind patriotism?

rigid, uncritical loyalty (my country is always right)

what is contrustive patriotism?

critical loyalty aimed at helping the nation live up to its own values

what is right-wing authoritarianism?

submission to authority, traditional views, and aggression toward whoever the authority targets

what is social dominance orientation?

a general preference for group-based hierarchy over equality, exclusionary

what are chosen glories and traumas?

national identity is sustained by selectively remembering shared triumphs and passed-down historical wounds that reinforce victimhood and threat

ex: japan hiroshima

what are the dangers of nationalism?

war risks its peak when nationalism is stateless and state-seeking, irredentist, imperialistic, or oppressive toward minorities

what is the critique of ethic diversity in terms of nationalism?

diversity alone does not cause civil war. poverty, weak states, and political exclusion of ethic groups are the actual drivers

what is dehuminization in terms of nationalism?

pushing in-group favoritism to the extreme to where it strips the out-groups of moral consideration, enables mass atrocities and violence

what is banal nationalism?

established nations reinforce their national identity through routine. (flags, maps, currency)

what is chauvinism?

an extreme belief that your nation is better than everyone else’s, and not treating the equally