In the following termpaper I will make a research about nationalism. This issue is a important topic of many different sciences, like sociology, history or politcs. Therefore nationalism has many definitions, for each
type of science his own one. It is a topic for a debate in our society because it still includes many
questions and problems. Questions like what kind of nationalism would be morally right? Could we reach it? Problems like for instance the national liberation movements in some parts of africa or asian or just the
case of Israel.
The work starts with the general definition of nationalism. Afterwards the two big types of nationalism will be explained - the ethnical and the civil one. The next part is the modern nationalism with a few important examples. The following point will give a briefly overview how the “ideal nationalism” should be and what the world on this issue is doing wrong.
Finally a conclusion will sum up the most important facts of this work and answer the question whether nationalism is a real challenge or it is not.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. General definition of Nationalism
2.1 Two types of Nationalism
3. The modern Nationalism
4. The “ideal Nationalism”?
5. Conclusion
6. Sources
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the concept of nationalism as a moral challenge in the modern world, exploring how different definitions and types of nationalism impact contemporary society, political legitimacy, and minority rights.
- Definitions of nationalism in various academic disciplines.
- Distinction between ethnic and civic forms of nationalism.
- The influence of socialization and media on nationalist sentiment.
- Evaluation of "ideal" nationalism and the role of cosmopolitan education.
Excerpt from the Book
2. General definition of Nationalism
All countries of the world are official nations, therefore every nation has his own definition of nationalism, his own nationalism history and the own development of it. Nationalism was not only known in Europe, also other countries like Japan, Latin America, arabic countries or Israel. The reasons how Nationalism arise are also different, it depends on many policital and social factors.
Like mentioned before Nationalism has different definitions. The philosopher Ernest Gellner has the definition, that it is a theory of the political legitimacy, in which the ethic borders do not have to overlap with the political ones. Especially the ethic borders in a nation are not allowed to separate the ruler of the subjugated people. It is a possibility which is already out of the question because of the general definition of this principle(Gellner, 1995, 8).
We have some countries which do not have the territory for their own, sometimes there are more ethnic groups in a such territory. The nationalist ideology of a territorial politic unit has the aim to make this area in a ethnical view homogeneously. But to have a politic unit, it is neccessary to kill or to assimilate all other people of the other country(ebd., 10). The result of this case is that Nationalism do not need a ethic homogeneously population. For instance it is possible that we have Nationalism in countries like Switzerland or USA although there exist different ethic groups regarding to their culture or language(Henning,Jansen, 2007,27).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the research scope, highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of nationalism and the central questions regarding its moral implications.
2. General definition of Nationalism: This section explores diverse definitions of nationalism and analyzes how political and social factors contribute to the formation of nationalist ideologies.
2.1 Two types of Nationalism: This sub-chapter contrasts ethnic nationalism, which focuses on descent and culture, with civic nationalism, which centers on shared political values and citizenship.
3. The modern Nationalism: This chapter discusses the historical genesis of modern nationalism and the role of media and conflict in shaping contemporary nationalist identities.
4. The “ideal Nationalism”?: This chapter investigates the balance between national partiality and human welfare, advocating for minority rights and cosmopolitan education.
5. Conclusion: The concluding section summarizes the challenges posed by nationalism in the 21st century and suggests that global reconciliation requires a shift toward a more inclusive, cosmopolitan framework.
6. Sources: This section lists the academic references and online resources used throughout the paper.
Keywords
Nationalism, Ethnic Nationalism, Civic Nationalism, Nation-state, Political Legitimacy, Socialization, Minority Rights, Cosmopolitan Education, Global Reconciliation, Cultural Diversity, Identity, Mass Communication, Patriotism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The work examines nationalism as a complex, multifaceted phenomenon that serves as a moral challenge for contemporary global society.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the definitions of nationalism, the distinction between ethnic and civic types, the impact of the media, and the struggle for balance in culturally diverse societies.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if nationalism remains a viable and moral framework for organizing societies or if it acts as a disruptive challenge that hinders global integration.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a literature-based theoretical approach, analyzing definitions and concepts provided by philosophers such as Ernest Gellner and Karl Deutsch.
What does the main body cover?
The main body provides a comparative analysis of ethnic and civic nationalism, explores the role of modern media in influencing public opinion, and discusses the potential for "ideal" nationalism.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include nationalism, nation-state, political legitimacy, cosmopolitan education, and ethnic conflict.
How does the author define the difference between ethnic and civic nationalism?
Ethnic nationalism is based on pre-existing characteristics like race or language, while civic nationalism is defined by subscription to a shared set of political values and citizenship.
What is the role of the media in modern nationalism?
The author argues that media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion and can be used to promote nationalism, sometimes leading to the alienation of minority groups.
Why does the author advocate for cosmopolitan education?
Cosmopolitan education is proposed as a way to encourage global reconciliation by acknowledging both the achievements and failures of nations, fostering a broader "one world" perspective.
What is the author's view on the future of nationalism?
The author suggests that nationalism will remain a significant problem in the near future and that addressing ethnic conflicts will require political reform and a movement toward global citizenship.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dennis Trom (Autor:in), 2014, Nationalism - A challenge?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/267325
