soc 161 10/20

Constructing the Nation State and National Identity

  • Discussion focus: The concepts of nation state and national identity, particularly in the context of what it means to be American.

  • Reference to Doctor May Nye's book, "Impossible Subjects," which examines the construction of national origins and racial ineligibility to citizenship.

Historical Phases of US Immigration

  • Overview of the four historical phases of US immigration:

    • First Phase: Migration as "exit."

    • Description: Workers and peasants leaving their home countries to escape poverty or repression, primarily for survival rather than political participation.

    • Consequence: Resulted in low civic engagement and strong pressures for assimilation in the US.

    • Second Phase: Voiceless presence of immigrants.

    • Example: Mexicans remained politically voiceless; their presence tolerated economically but restricted legally—symbolizing loyalty without rights.

    • Third Phase (mid 20th century): The 1965 Immigration Act.

    • Transformation: Initiated political mobilization among second-generation immigrants through ethnic movements and civil rights struggles.

    • Key themes: Emergence of reactive ethnicity leading into empowerment and political engagement via hometown associations, remittances, and diaspora voting.

    • Fourth Phase: Re-definition of belonging.

    • Evolution of citizenship concepts extending legality and belonging beyond historical boundaries.

Distinguishing Concepts in Sociology and Political Science

  • Country:

    • Definition: A broad term referring to geographical or political units without specifying governance structures or cultural identities.

  • Nation:

    • Definition: A social and cultural group bound by shared history, myths, languages, or identities. Conceptualized as an "imagined community" by Benedict Anderson.

    • Example: The way people refer to collective identities like "we Americans".

  • State:

    • Definition: The institutional apparatus that administers governance, including government, bureaucracy, law enforcement, and military.

    • Focus: State is centered on authority and the definition of citizenship.

  • Nation-State:

    • Definition: The ideal alignment of a nation and state; where one people is governed by one authority in one territory.

    • Realities: Often deviates in practice as borders do not align neatly with nations, impacting indigenous peoples and immigrant communities.

  • Nationalism:

    • Definition: The belief or ideology that promotes the alignment of people (nation) with politics (state).

    • Forms:

    • Inclusionary nationalism, which unites various groups around common ideals.

    • Exclusionary nationalism, defining who does not belong.

    • Implications: Influences emotional responses in societies about belonging and identity.

Historical Roots of the Nation

  • The modern concept of nationality is a recent invention, evolving primarily since the eighteenth century.

  • Pre-18th century identities were localized and layered, with loyalties tied to kings, localities, or religions.

  • Revolutions and the development of capitalism gave rise to the idea of popular sovereignty, leading to the emergence of modern nations defined by shared political communities.

  • National identities were fabricated through state machinery via education, cultural narratives, and symbolic markers (e.g., flags, holidays) that legitimized new states.

    • Eric Hobsbawm's insight: National traditions were invented to maintain authority and legitimacy.

Forms of Nationalism

  • Ethnic Nationalism:

    • Definition: Defines the nation based on shared ethnic characteristics, ancestry, language, and culture. Belonging by birth.

  • Civic Nationalism:

    • Definition: Defines the nation within the context of shared political values and participation. Highlights inclusivity based on democratic principles, yet historically marred by ethnic exclusions.

Birthright Citizenship

  • Founded on the 14th Amendment (1868), established citizenship for anyone born on US soil, extending to children of American parents abroad.

  • Antecedent to aristocratic heritage by asserting equality under law based on place of birth, rather than lineage or social status.

  • Recent political discourse: Proposals (2018, 2023) by Donald Trump to terminate birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents, labeled as "anchor babies," highlight shifts in attitudes towards civic identity and fears of ethnic nationalism.

  • Ethical Implications: Revoking birthright citizenship risks creating a class of stateless individuals and undermines the civic foundation of American national identity.

Evolution of US Citizenship Laws

  • Citizenship has historically been constructed and reconstructed through acts and policies reflecting exclusion and inclusion dynamics:

    • 1790 Naturalization Act: Established a precedent where only "free white persons" could naturalize, embedding racial hierarchy.

    • Indian Removal Act (1830): Stripped indigenous sovereignty and legality from native populations.

    • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848): Promised citizenship for Mexican residents post-Mexican American War, yet practical rights were systematically denied.

    • The 14th Amendment: Established citizenship for former slaves yet excluded Native Americans from citizenship.

    • Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): Launched a racially-based immigration restriction that institutionalized discrimination.

    • 1924 Immigration Act: Imposed racial quotas designed to maintain a specific demographic balance favoring Northern and Western Europeans.

    • Institutional Responses to Global Events: Various acts throughout history (e.g., the Bracero Program and DACA) illustrate how labor demands conflicted with the provision of citizenship rights, highlighting tensions in inclusion policies.

Immigration Laws as Social Constructs

  • All immigration and citizenship laws are reflective of societal values, anxieties, and historical moments, defining who is imagined to be American.

  • Laws shape the nation demographically, influence social narratives, and can provoke backlash against perceived changes in cultural identity.

Racial Classifications in American Immigration

  • Historical perspectives on whiteness reveal it as a contested category rather than stable; immigrants of color challenged and negotiated racial identity concepts.

  • As immigrants from Asia and Latin America arrived, definitions of whiteness became socially contested, reflected in court decisions and racial classifications.

The Concept of "Impossible Subjects"

  • Doctor May Nye's argument that immigration law does not just reflect social attitudes but actively constructs them, creating the legal categories of citizenship and exclusion.

  • Focus on the transformation of social categories of people within the legal framework, particularly Mexicans and Asians, reflecting their complex positioning in US society.

  • Illustration of how immigration law creates racialized identities while simultaneously constructing national identities.

Conclusion

  • Citizenship and immigration policies remain foundational in defining the American identity and social structure, grounded in principles that must grapple with historical injustices and ongoing exclusions. Discussions on national identity, tribal belonging, and racial hierarchies remain crucial in understanding contemporary conflicts and aspirations in the US.