Notes on Nation, Nationality, and Nationalism

Nation and Nationality

  • Nation: Refers to a group of people, specifically the people of a country (e.g., American people).
  • Nationality: Defines where a person is from. The most ironclad way to determine one's nationality is by their passport.
    • Passport Application: If traveling internationally, the federal government requires ample time to process passport applications.

Ethnic Identity

  • Definition: Attributes or social institutions that culturally differentiate one group of people from others.
  • Markers of Ethnic Identity in the US:
    • Race: Divisions like white, black, etc.
    • Social Class.
    • Religion.
    • Specific Ethnicity: Historically significant differences, such as Italian American vs. German American, which were more prominent a century ago than today.
  • Cultural Community (e.g., East Africa): Encompasses language, clothing, food, and religion.

Case Study: Uganda

  • Example: A professor from Uganda, a former British colony.
  • Tribal Designation: His tribe is Bugandan, with only about 400,000 speakers worldwide.
    • Implications of a Minority Language: Limited opportunities to speak the language, few learning resources, lack of books, radio programs, podcasts, or TV shows in the native tongue.
  • Religious Divisions: Uganda has Christian and Muslim sections; the professor is from the Christian part.
  • Navigating Identity: His given name, Sabunya Kasule, could lead to problems if introducing himself to non-Bugandans, as the Bugandans have at times been unpopular rulers.
  • Baptismal Name: He also has a Christian name, Edward, which he uses depending on the social context to avoid potential issues related to his tribal identity or religious affiliation (Christian vs. Muslim, given Uganda's political climate, e.g., the president's anti-LGBTQ stance).

Case Study: India

  • Surnames and the Caste System: Indian surnames are rooted in the caste system, a rigid social hierarchy.
    • Caste Indication: A surname would indicate one's social standing (e.g., teacher, merchant, priestly class like Brahmins).
    • Social Implications: This rigid hierarchy often influences social interactions and familial decisions, even concerning dating among young people, where parental approval might depend on the suitor's caste.
  • Legality vs. Practice: The caste system is officially illegal in India, but its social effects and classist attitudes persist despite the law.

National Identity and Self-Governance

  • Nation (Revisited): A group of people desiring self-governance.
  • National Identity: A shared identity among a group who believe they should form a nation (a state).
  • Political Nature: National identity is inherently political because it relies on differences; for a group to exist, there must be groups that are not part of it (e.g., no controversy in being an "Earthling" because everyone is one).
    • Athletic Analogy: If everyone makes the team, making the team loses significance; cuts are often necessary for distinct group formation.
  • Derivation: National identity is often, but not always, derived from ethnic identity.

Nationalism

  • Definition: A national identity that becomes the basis for pride in one's people and the belief that they have a unique political destiny.

Case Study: German Nationalism (Mid-Late 19th through 20th Century)

Germany illustrates both the promise and problems of nationalism with three distinct, though overlapping, strains:

  1. Traditionalist Nationalism: The idea that all German speakers and Germanic people should unite into a single country based on traditional values.
    • Perceived Superiority: This strain incorporated notions of German superiority (e.g., Aryans, as Hitler believed).
    • Hitler's Concern about the US: Hitler surprisingly worried about fighting the United States due to its large German immigrant population. He viewed these immigrants as the most "superior" (aggressive, industrious) Germans who were courageous enough to seek a new life, making their descendants formidable opponents.
  2. Xenophobic Nationalism: Unity based on fear and blame of outsiders (e.g., blaming the French, English, or Jews for perceived national failures) who supposedly denied Germany its deserved greatness.
  3. Democratic Idealism: A post-WWII strain that emerged from the embarrassment and shame over German aggression and the Holocaust.
    • German Responsibility: This concept posits a duty to atone for past actions, leading to efforts for a united Germany that promotes democracy, particularly within the European Union.
    • Post-WWII German Citizens: Many German citizens were initially unaware or disbelieving of the Holocaust, leading Allied forces to compel villagers near concentration camps to witness and bury bodies to ensure acknowledgment of the atrocities.

Problems of Nationalism (Illustrated by Germany)

  1. Defining Who is (and is Not) German: German is spoken in many non-German areas (Austria, Eastern France, Switzerland, parts of Belgium). While German nationalism historically sought to encompass these speakers, these populations often do not identify as ethnically German (e.g., Swiss do not think they are German, and Alsace-Lorraine residents do not think they are German).
  2. Determining the Political Form of a Nation: What governmental structure should a nation take?
  3. National Sovereignty in the Hands of Others: A country truly becomes a country only when other established countries recognize its statehood, regardless of a people's self-determination.
    • Example: Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points advocated for self-determination, but international recognition is the practical determinant of sovereignty. The 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States outlines criteria for statehood but faces two theories:
      • Natural Law: A state inherently exists, and recognition merely acknowledges its pre-existing status.
      • Positivism: A state exists only when recognized by others.
  4. Conflict Between National Self-Determination and Neighborhood Security: Despite aspirational treaties and ideals of national self-determination, countries that threaten regional security may face external intervention.
    • Example (Post-WWII Germany): After being the primary driver of two world wars, Germany was partitioned into East and West by Allied powers, demonstrating that security concerns can override theoretical self-determination.

Different Types of Nationalism

  • Ethnic Nationalism:
    • Definition: Membership in the national group is based on shared ethnicity.
    • Characteristics: Often found in mono-ethnic or largely mono-ethnic countries with rigid ideals.
    • Examples (of "good" examples demonstrating problematic outcomes):
      • Japan: Staunchly ethnic nationalist; one must be ethnically Japanese to be considered Japanese. Even a non-ethnic Japanese person married to a Japanese citizen for 60 years is required to leave Japan 90 days after their spouse's death.
      • South Korea: A profoundly mono-ethnic and mono-racial country. Historically, mixed-race children were often aborted or left to die to maintain a "pure" Korean gene pool. The work of Hines Ward (African American-Korean football player) in advocating for mixed-race children in Korea highlights this stark ethnic nationalism, particularly given the large US military presence creating more mixed-race individuals.
  • Civic Nationalism:
    • Definition: Membership is based on adherence to a set of shared values, rather than ethnicity.
    • Example: The United States: The US primarily operates on civic nationalism. Naturalization involves an extensive process:
      • Paying significant fees.
      • Lengthy study and processing time.
      • Passing an exam (formerly included reciting all presidents in chronological order).
      • Swearing an oath of allegiance.
    • Oath of Allegiance: Requires renouncing foreign allegiances, supporting and defending the US Constitution and laws, bearing true faith, being willing to bear arms or perform non-combatant service or work of national importance when required by law ("without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion").

Diverse Nations and Nationalities

  • The American Nation: The concept of an "American nation" is debated.
  • Native American Tribes: Tribes like the Cherokee are often considered separate nations with their own laws and sovereignty.
    • Jurisdictional Conflicts: This sovereignty can lead to tensions and jurisdictional problems with the US federal government (e.g., a Native American man's rape conviction in a tribal court upheld a one-year sentence, which the US Justice Department deemed insufficient, leading to a legal challenge over tribal sovereignty).
  • The United Kingdom: Colloquially called "England," it technically comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, bound together historically but with distinct national identities.
    • Devolution: Each country has its own legislature (e.g., Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh), but this can cause resentment in English regions without similar autonomy.
    • Scottish Independence Referendums: Scotland has voted on independence from the UK multiple times, though it has never passed.
    • Brexit Impact: The UK's departure from the European Union complicated the border between Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (EU member), transforming a once-seamless commute into an international border crossing.
  • Stateless Nation: A group of people with a shared national identity but without a recognized state of their own (e.g., Kurds). These are nations without a state. Note: The transcript transitions here without providing a specific stateless nation example, but defines the concept. This topic was discussed prior to the last exam regarding states and nations.