Introduction to Nationalism and Identity

Civic Nation

• nation based on shared political values, laws, rights, responsibilities, citizenship

• not one ethnicity, religion, or culture

• ex: Canada (charter of rights and freedoms, democracy, equality, etc.)

Nation

group of people who feel connected through shared identity and belonging

• geography/land

• language

• beliefs and values

• culture

• citizenship

Nation-State

sovereign country with recognized borders, government, laws, citizenship, international recognition

Nationalism

shared sense of belonging, loyalty, or identity among people who see themselves as part of the same nation

Patriotism

• Love, pride, or loyalty toward one’s nation-state

• symbols and actions that show pride towards country

Stateless Nation

A nation that does not have its own sovereign country

Self-Determination

desire or right of a people to make decisions about their own political future

Sovereignty

authority of a state to govern itself independently

Tibet

• distinct culture, language, religion, and identity

• China has controls Tibet

• believe they should have self-determination or independence

Absolutism

government system where one ruler has complete power

Bourgeoisie

• educated middle class in France

• merchants, lawyers, shopkeepers, bankers, professionals

Coup d’État

sudden overthrow of a government by force

Divine Right of Kings

• belief that monarchs received their power directly from God

• people were considered subjects

• anointed with oil (symbol of service to God)

Enlightenment

intellectual movement that promoted

• reason

• individual rights

• equality

• limits on government power

• liberty

Feudalism

• social and economic system

• landholders provided land and protection in exchange for loyalty, labour, or service

Monarchy

government system ruled by a king or queen

Old Regime

• political and social system in France before the French Revolution

• monarch

French Revolution

• French people to challenge and revolt against the king

• new nation based on ideas of liberty, equality, rights, and citizenship

• Commoners questioned the social hierarchy

hierarchy/estates

1. God

2. King

3. clergy

4. Nobles

5. commoners

clergy

• 0.5% population

• religion, education, healthcare, help the poor

• owned 10% of the land

• no/modified taxes

Nobles

• 1.5% population

• from birth or status

• high social status, special roles/rights, tax exemptions

type of commoners

1. bourgeoisie - educated and wealthy

2. urban workers - skilled/unskilled workers moving to cities

3. peasants - majority

economic

• debt due to American War of Independence

• poor harvest

• unfair taxation

• expensive lifestyle of monarchy

Economic Factors Leading to the French Revolution

• Revoking the Edict of Nantes

• American War of Independence

• War of the Spanish Succession

• Reckless Royal Spending

Estates-General

• raise taxes for all French citizens

• plan failed, so he called a meeting of the Estates-General

• each estate got one vote

Tennis Court Oath

• commoners would not separate until a written constitutional had been created for France

• national constituent assembly - first revolutionary government in France

Factors Shaping Nationalism

• historical - bastille (start of revolution)

• economic

• religious

• political

• social

religion

• France was a Catholic nation

• Protestantism was protected by Edict of Nantes but revoked by King Louis XVI

• many Protestants migrated

• weakened economy

Collective consciousness

shared beliefs, values, memories, symbols that help a group feel connected as a nation

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

• rational thought

• equality before the law

• individual rights

• liberty

• limit government power

King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

• weak leader

• easily influenced

• poor control led to french revolution

• marriage strengthen Austria and France alliance

• attempted to flee with the Flight to Varennes (Austria) but were caught and executed

secular state

• government not controlled by religion

• People were seen as citizens with rights

Maximilien Robespierre

• leader of the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror

• thousands of suspected “enemies of the revolution” were executed by guillotine

• arrested, which stopped reign of terror

Charlotte corday and jean-paul marat

• jean-paul marat - encouraged violence against enemies of the revolution

• Charlotte corday - moderate revolutionary group - Girondins

• Charlotte corday killed jean-paul marat to reduce violence (made violence worse)

Reign of Terror

• revolutionary leaders began a crackdown against suspected enemies of the revolution

• Thousands of suspected traitors were arrested or executed

• lasted about eleven months

Olympe de gouges

• wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen

• more political rights for women

• executed by guillotine

Napoleon Bonaparte

• Napoleon brought order and stability to France

• helped spread nationalism across Europe

• authoritarian leader

• defeated and later died in exile on island of St. Helena

Accommodation

• adjusting/making changes to meet the needs of individuals or groups

• allowing differences to remain

Acculturation

• process of adopting aspects of another culture

• maintaining parts of original culture and identity

Contending loyalties

• Loyalties that compete or conflict with one another

• make a choice based off importance

Cultural Pluralism

• Encouraging collectives to affirm/promote unique cultural identities

• multiculturism in Canada

Federalists

believe Québec should remain a part of Canada

Homogenization

• cultures become more alike

• reducing cultural differences and diversity

Reasonable accommodation

• legal concept requiring institutions to adapt to religious and cultural practices

• must not violate other rights and freedoms

Reconciliation

process of mending or repairing a damaged relationship

Royal Commission

• official public inquiry established by the government

• investigate an important issue and make recommendations

Sovereigntists

support Québec bcoming an independent nation-state

inuit loyalties

• record traditional Inuktitut place names and pass down knowledge

• names described location until Europeans renamed

• they were given identification numbers, reclaiming their names affirmed identity

Reasonable Accommodation

• Sikh CNR Employee and Safety Helmet - denied (risk to safety)

• Sikh RCMP and Turban - accepted (accomodates religion without risk)

Oka Crisis

• Mohawk people set up a roadblock to stop the expansion of a golf course onto important land

• lasted 4 months

• one police killed, army sent in

Bill 101

• Québec’s Charter of the French Language started by René Lévesque

• protect the French language

• strengthen Francophone identity in Québec

• ex: mandating schools to teach in French

Environmentalism

• philosophy/social movement

• based on the protection/improvement of the natural environment

• non-nationalist loyalty

Humanitarianism

• philosophy based on the belief that all human beings deserve to be treated with respect/dignity

• non-nationalist Loyalty

Meech Lake Accords

• proposed constitutional agreement in the 1980s

• recognize Québec as a distinct society within Canada

• failed due to not all provinces signing (thought it gave special privlieges)

Nationalist Loyalty

A loyalty embedded in the idea of nation

non-nationalist Loyalty

A loyalty not embedded in the idea of nation

Religious Loyalty

• Loyalty to a religious organization and beliefs and values

• can conflict with civic laws but can be challenged

Global Loyalties

• extend beyond one nation

• loyalty to international organizations (benefit global community)

internationalism

co-operation among nations for the benefit and well-being of humankind