There are a lot of reasons to be careful about recent professions of "progressive nationalism." And I admire Orwell from the bottom of my heart.
Even so, I remain somewhat skeptical of neat distinctions between patriotism (good!) and nationalism (bad!).
I'll explain.
[Thread.]
Even so, I remain somewhat skeptical of neat distinctions between patriotism (good!) and nationalism (bad!).
I'll explain.
[Thread.]
The idea is that national solidarity can have good and bad manifestations.
It can make us invest in the public good and care about people who are distant from us in geography, ethnicity, or religion.
But it can also cover for racism, invite jingoism and incite violent conflict.
It can make us invest in the public good and care about people who are distant from us in geography, ethnicity, or religion.
But it can also cover for racism, invite jingoism and incite violent conflict.
Often, those who draw a neat distinction between patriotism and nationalism believe that we can have the good without running danger of courting the bad.
"We should all be patriots—and there's no attendant risk!
But none of us should be nationalists—that's for the racists!"
"We should all be patriots—and there's no attendant risk!
But none of us should be nationalists—that's for the racists!"
The problem, as I see it, is that the good and the bad are more closely tied together than this distinction implies.
Inclusive nationalism can inspire solidarity with people who are very different from us.
Exclusive nationalism is one of the racists' most powerful tool.
Inclusive nationalism can inspire solidarity with people who are very different from us.
Exclusive nationalism is one of the racists' most powerful tool.
So my view in The People vs Democracy is a little different:
Nationalism is a half-domesticated animal. If we
abandon it, the worst people will stoke the beast until it runs wild.
Our task is to domesticate it as best we can—without ever losing its dangers out of sight.
[End]
Nationalism is a half-domesticated animal. If we
abandon it, the worst people will stoke the beast until it runs wild.
Our task is to domesticate it as best we can—without ever losing its dangers out of sight.
[End]
A last note:
There's nothing wrong with using "patriotism" to refer to what I call "inclusive nationalism" and nationalism to what I call "exclusive nationalism."
But if you split the concept this way, always remain mindful that you are talking about two sides of the same coin.
There's nothing wrong with using "patriotism" to refer to what I call "inclusive nationalism" and nationalism to what I call "exclusive nationalism."
But if you split the concept this way, always remain mindful that you are talking about two sides of the same coin.
