Nation & Nationalism — Comprehensive Study Notes

Concepts & Guiding Questions
  • Main Part 1 issue framing all chapters 1–5: To what extent should nation be the foundation of identity?
  • Recurring inquiry questions:
    • What is a nation?
    • What is nationalism?
    • How are identity & citizenship connected to both?
Understanding “Nation”
  • Simplest common-sense meaning: “a body of people who feel that they are a nation” (Rupert Emerson).
  • Benedict Anderson: “Imagined community.” Members think of themselves as connected despite never meeting.
  • Ernest Renan (1882): Nation = common past + present will to live together; spiritual principle not race, language or territory alone.
  • A nation may be grounded in overlapping shared experiences: Ethnic background, Cultural values, Collective history, Language(s), Religious/spiritual traditions, Geography/relationship to the land, Politics & forms of citizenship.
  • Nations are multiple & nested: an individual can simultaneously belong to several nations (e.g., Acadian, Francophone, Canadian).
Nation vs. Nation-State
  • Nation = internal connection; Nation-state = external/legal structure: territory + sovereignty recognised by other states.
  • A nation-state can host many nations (Belgium, Canada, China, Fiji).
  • Sovereignty delivers opportunities but may inflame conflicts when multiple nations seek exclusivity.
  • Fast facts: >190 internationally recognised states; 15+ new since 1990.
Creating a Sense of Nationalism
Geographic Bonds
  • Landscapes as “temples” or “teachers.”
  • Sacred sites & man-made monuments anchor memory.
Language
  • Language = “clay” that shapes belonging; reclaiming Indigenous tongues (Rita Joe’s poem “I Lost My Talk”).
  • Revitalisation seen as prerequisite for cultural survival.
Spirituality & Religion
  • Catholicism once core to Québécois identity.
  • Indigenous worldview: treaties as spiritual covenants.
Ethnicity, Culture & History
  • Shared myths, oral stories, legends, symbols.
  • Storytelling keeps nations alive.
Citizenship & Patriotism
  • Legal participation: taxes, voting, Charter rights ➔ concrete membership.
  • Patriotism = emotional attachment to state symbols.
Expressions of Nationalism
  • Communications/actions that manifest internal belonging: flags, anthem singing, monuments, literature, dance, websites, political activism.
  • Motivations: reinforce unity, confirm identity, broadcast grievances, demand change.
  • Typology of media:
    • Celebrations & holidays (Tintamarre, Canada Day).
    • Artwork & performing arts.
    • Political documents (Declarations, Charters).
    • Daily practices.
Case Studies
Ukrainians
  • Trans-territorial nation (large diaspora).
  • Shared symbols: Taras Shevchenko statues, pysanky, embroidery, folk dance; Orange Revolution rallies.
  • Timeline: Kievan Rus’ → partitions → 1991 independence → 2004–05 Orange Revolution.
Métis
  • Ethno-cultural genesis: children of First Nations women + European fur traders; core homeland: Red River.
  • Historical milestones: 1869–70 & 1885 resistances; sash, infinity flag; Michif language revival; Back to Batoche Days.
Acadians
  • Le grand dérangement (1755 deportation) forged diaspora solidarity.
  • Modern symbols: tricolour flag with Stella Maris star, “Ave Maris Stella” anthem, Evangeline myth, Congrès mondial acadien family reunions.
Canadians
  • Layered identity markers: Charter of Rights (1982), bilingualism, peacekeeping tradition, maple leaf, Vimy Ridge narrative, Highway of Heroes rituals.
  • Diverse viewpoints: “melting pot” vs. multicultural mosaic.
Development of Nationalism: French Revolution
Preconditions
  • Ancien Régime = absolutist monarchy + feudal estates.
  • Unequal tax burden; 4billionlivres4 billion livres debt; Enlightenment philosophy; American War inspiration.
Timeline Highlights
  • May 1789 Estates-General convened ➔ June Tennis Court Oath (birth of National Assembly).
  • 14 July 1789 Storming Bastille.
  • 4 Aug feudalism abolished; Aug Declaration of the Rights of Man.
  • Oct Women’s March on Versailles; 1790 constitutional monarchy.
  • 1792 France ➔ republic; levée en masse.
  • 1793–94 Reign of Terror; execution of Louis XVI & Marie-Antoinette.
  • 1799 Napoleon’s coup; 1804 emperor; Napoleonic Code; continental wars; 1815 Waterloo & exile.
Factors Interacting
  • Historical grievances (tax, famine).
  • Social hierarchy (Three Estates).
  • Political ideology (liberty, popular sovereignty).
  • Economic crisis (royal debt).
  • Geographic symbolism (Paris, Bastille).
Outcomes
  • National anthem “La Marseillaise,” tricolour flag, citizen armies; spread of liberal nationalism across Europe; Congress of Vienna reaction.
Contemporary Example: Kosovo
  • Ethno-nationalist claim: Albanian majority vs. Serbian governance; 2008 declaration of independence as nation-state.
Collective Consciousness & Variations in Canada/USA
Canadian Identity Debates
  • Multiple possible “birth moments”: 1608 New France, 1867 BNA Act, Vimy 1917, Charter 1982.
  • Layers: pan-Canadian, regional, linguistic, Indigenous.
Québécois Nationalism
  • Quiet Revolution (1960s): “Maîtres chez nous,” secular schools, Hydro-Québec.
  • October Crisis 1970 ➔ War Measures Act.
  • PQ & referendums 1980 (60 % No) & 1995 (49.4 % Yes).
  • Meech/Charlottetown Accords; Bloc Québécois.
First Nations, Métis, Inuit Consciousness
  • Assembly of First Nations declaration: Creator-given sovereignty, land stewardship, languages.
  • Shared concepts: miyo-wîcêhtowin (good relations), pimatziwin (long life).
  • Métis Nation: infinity flag, Louis Riel, national definition (MNC).
  • Inuit: connection to Arctic land, Nunavut 1999, climate advocacy.
American Identity Markers
  • Founding documents (Declaration 1776, Constitution 1787).
  • Myths: frontier “new man,” melting pot.
  • Songs: “Star-Spangled Banner” vs. “America the Beautiful.”
  • Civil War legacy, Manifest Destiny, “defenders of democracy,” American Dream ideal.
Glossary of Key Terms
  • Nation, Nationalism, Nation-state, Collective consciousness, Patriotism, Sovereignty-association, Levée en masse, Michif, Quiet Revolution, Melting pot.
Ethical, Philosophical & Practical Implications
  • When does self-determination trump territorial integrity?
  • Balancing individual Charter rights vs. collective language/culture rights.
  • Role of external recognition in legitimising nationhood.
  • Use (and misuse) of patriotism to suspend civil liberties.
Study Tips
  • Trace timelines alongside maps to visualise shifting borders.
  • Compare primary-source quotations for perspective analysis.
  • Link each factor (history, geography, etc.) to at least one concrete example from a case study.