Effects of Nationalism
January 24, 2012 | Society
Nationalism may be described usually as a feeling of patriotism, loyalty, and devotion to the country within which a person was born and raised.
Although this does not sensibly explain how children born of parents working and domiciled in a foreign country assume the feelings of nationalism to the country of their parent’s birth?
So it is difficult to define the exact nature of nationalism. We witness daily the effects of nationalism in the forms of war and acts of terrorism in many locations around the world, so apart from just being love of ones country. Nationalism seems to include religion, culture, and politics.
Maybe nationalism is more of an ideology than an actual emotion, since within countries, even nationalist movements frequently have differing aspirations, and often cannot agree just what nationalism is among themselves. So it follows naturally that there are both positive and negative aspects of nationalism, each having different effects.
Positive Effects of Nationalism.
- Nationalism can be seen as a method of establishing a national identity.
- Such identity then affirms the right of the nation to be internationally recognized.
- The recognition of the national identity leads to a recognition of the historical background and culture of the nation.
- Recognition of the national language.
- Nationalism can represent a social force against internal oppression and insurgency.
Negative Effects of Nationalism.
- The division within the nation of differing groups each of which considers itself to be superior to another group.
- Hence the division of society into ethnic groups which often leads to violence
- Any individual within the society can feel threatened or be persecuted by not being a member of one of these allegedly superior groups.