Nationalism

                                         Nationalism 

Introduction

this chapter will explain us the meaning of nation and nationalism. and its strengths and limitations.

Nationalism

the very important point which we come across at first place, is what is nation ? and what is nationalism?  

nation is an imagined community which is held together by common beliefs, aspirations, and imaginations of its members. it is based on assumptions which people make on which they are identified. these common assumptions are: 

a. shared beliefs

b. history

c. territory

d. shared political ideals

e. common political identity 

before we discuss, these points in little detail let us first answer the questions.

Q&A

Q1. what is a nation?

A1. nation is an imagined community which is held together by common beliefs, aspirations, and imaginations of its members.

Q2. what are the common assumptions on which people identify themselves as a collective unity?

A2.  The common assumptions on which people identify themselves as a collective unity are:

a. shared beliefs

b. history

c. territory

d. shared political ideals

e. common political identity 

Now let us discuss these points. 

a.  Shared Beliefs

a nation does not consist of mountains, hills, territory, infrastructure and natural resources etc. but nation is made by its people. and a nation exists only when people believe that they belong together. They have a belief that they are one entity and together as one team, we have to take our country forward. 

b. history 

india shares history of its ancient and long civilisation. she (india) shares her legends, historical memories, historical records . we also share our freedom movement. this sense of hidtory binds us as one entity. 

c. territory

Sharing a common past and living together on a particular territory over a long period of time gives people a sense of collective identity. it helps them to imagine themselves as one community. people who see themselves as nation speak of homeland, fatherland, or holyland. for example: jewish people say palestine as their homeland. 

d. shared political ideals

india shares its political ideals  like democracy, liberty, secularism, socialism, and equality. these ideals keep indian people united.  people have accpeted these ideals as benefitting every section of community and are willing to live together. we are also bound by obligations and these obligations(duty) towards our country has kept us united. 

e. common political identity

india do not share a common religious and linguistic identity. this is because india has diverse religions. and in those religions also there are different sects. also, india wanted to rsepect different religions so india never adopted a state religion. india is a secular country. she(india) is not a hindu country or a muslim country or a christian country. 

we are identified as one political entity because we adhere to the values enshrined in our constitution. we have accept secularism, freedom and rights etc as the values in our constitution. 

Q&A

Q1. How does sharing beliefs constitute a nation?

A1. a nation does not consist of mountains, hills, territory, infrastructure and natural resources etc. but nation is made by its people. and a nation exists only when people believe that they belong together. They have a belief that they are one entity and together as one team, we have to take our country forward. 

Q2. How does sharing history constitute nation?

A2. India shares history of its ancient and long civilisation. she (india) shares her legends, historical memories, historical records . we also share our freedom movement. this sense of hidtory binds us as one entity. 

Q3. how does sharing a territory constitute a nation?

A3. Sharing a common past and living together on a particular territory over a long period of time gives people a sense of collective identity. it helps them to imagine themselves as one community. people who see themselves as nation speak of homeland, fatherland, or holyland. for example: jewish people say palestine as their homeland. 

Q4. what beliefs constitute a nation? explain

A4. a.  Shared Beliefs

a nation does not consist of mountains, hills, territory, infrastructure and natural resources etc. but nation is made by its people. and a nation exists only when people believe that they belong together. They have a belief that they are one entity and together as one team, we have to take our country forward. 

b. history 

india shares istory of its ancient and long civilisation. she (india) shares her legends, historical memories, historical records . we also share our freedom movement. this sense of hidtory binds us as one entity. 

c. territory

Sharing a common past and living together on a particular territory over a long period of time gives people a sense of collective identity. it helps them to imagine themselves as one community. people who see themselves as nation speak of homeland, fatherland, or holyland. for example: jewish people say palestine as their homeland. 

d. shared political ideals

india shares its political ideals  like democracy, liberty, secularism, socialism, and equality. these ideals keep indian people united.  people have accpeted these ideals as benefitting every section of community and are willing to live together. we are also bound by obligations and these obligations(duty) towards our country has kept us united. 

e. common political identity

we are identified as one political entity because we adhere to the values enshrined in our constitution. we have accept secularism, freedom and rights etc as the values in our constitution.  india does not share a common religious and linguistic identity. 

Q.5.  Give the meaning of nationalism.

Ans. nationalism means devotion for the nation. It is a sentiment that binds the people together.

National Self-Determination

self determination means right to govern oneself. nations always seek to govern themselves. This is because they get an international recognition and acceptance that they are one nation. nations also lay claim to self government because they can protect their culture and beliefs and their own people. 

india also carried out long independence movement to claim right to self determination. self government provides dignity and also confidence that they are not being ruled by any outside superior power.  

even today there are groups who are fighting for separate statehood and self  determination. tamilians in sri lanka, quebecois in canada etc. 

but countries formed on the basis on nation have also led to increasing amount of violence, mass migration and riots. since, a cultural group when they get right to govern themselves and establish their statehood, people from other cultural groups or minority groups start feeling marginalised and discriminated. so they migrate to other areas where they feel safe and their rights are protected. So, it is a paradoxical situation when cultural groups claim right to self determination but at the same time other cultural or minority groups feel discriminated which leads to violence and backlash. if you remember, in chapter of citizenship we have talked about global citizenship where human rights of every individual is to be respected.  global citizenship can solve the national self-determination paradox.  

Also, other suggestion is that we need to make nations more democratic and inclusive. we need to accept the fact that it is a globalisation world and people are on the move for jobs, travel, marriage and for residence. So, we cannot follow restrictive definition of nation. nations need to be more democratic and inclusive now. they need to give constitutional protection to minority groups. right to representation in legislative bodies can also be provided. 

Q&A

Q1. Write two merits of nationalism.

Ans. 1. Nationalism inculcates patriotic spirit. A man is prepared to make any sacrifice for the glory and safety of his/her country.

2. Nationalism is a unifying factor. it creates religious and cultural unity.

Q2.  Write two demerits of nationalism.

Ans. 1. Nationalism is a threat to world peace. Nationalism many a times becomes the cause of many wars. people belonging to minority or other nation feels marginalised which becomes a cause of conflict and violence.

2.  A nation upholding the values of nationalism regards its nations as superior to others and thereby creates hatred for other nations. for example: hitler regarded jewish race as inferior to aryan race. and hence he carried out mass massacres of jewish in order to exterminate them. 

Q3. What is right to self determination? 

A3. right to self determination means right to govern oneself.

Q4. what are the merits of self determination?  

A4. a. they have the right to govern themselves

b. they can determine their own future developments.  

c. they get recognition as a distinct political entity.

d. they can protect their own cultural group. 

e. political independence provide dignity and freedom from colonial domination. as in case of asian and african freedom struggles.        

Q5. What are the demerits of national self determination?

A5. a. many times, minorities are not considered as equal citizens. 

b. impossible to grant self determination to every group.

c. it will lead to formation of many small states will be created.   

Q6. How can minorities problem be solved in a nation?

a6. nations need to be made more democratic and inclusive.  we need to accept the fact that it is a globalisation world and people are on the move for jobs, travel, marriage and for residence. So, we cannot follow restrictive definition of nation. they need to give constitutional protection to minority groups. right to representation in legislative bodies can also be provided.  also we can recognise a nation on the basis of political identity rather than reinforcing cultural, language or religious identity.

Q7. Distinguish between state and nation.

Ans. Following are the difference between state and nation:

1. State has four essential elements, but elements of nation are not fixed.

2. The elements of a nation may change and they go on changing, but the elements of state are permanent and remain same.

3. Idea of oneness is essential for the nation but not for the state.

4. Definite territory is essential for the state but not for the Nation.

5. Sovereignty is essential for the state and not for the Nation.

Tagore on nationalism

Tagore was against the concept of nationalism. he believed in internationalism rather than nationalism . he believed that humanity cannot be divided on the basis of nations or borders. equal rights and dignity need to be provided to everyone irrespective of the fact whether he/she is an indian, american or arabi.  

Q&A

Q1. what was tagore's critique of nationalism? 

A1. tagore  believed in internationalism rather than nationalism . he believed that humanity cannot be divided on the basis of nations or borders. equal rights and dignity need to be provided to everyone irrespective of his/her nationality.

NCERT SOLUTION

Q1. How is a nation different from other forms of collective belonging?
Answer: A nation is not only a collection of people and it differs from other groups found in society:
1. A state is different from a family which is based on direct personal interaction of people living together and having knowledge and characters of other also.
2. A nation is different from clans, tribes and kinship which ties of marriage and descent link members to each other so that even if we do not personally know all the members we can.
3. But as a member of a nation, we may never come face to face with most of our fellow nationals nor need we share ties of descent with them.

Q2. What do you understand by the right to national self-determination? How has this idea resulted in both formation of and challenges to nation-states?
Answer:
Right of self-determination implies that every nation in the world should enjoy a right to determine its destiny in all walks of life without any due interference from any other state.
 The basic right implies that each state has a right to exist independently without inference from  other states and sovereignty of the state would be respected by all.
 Every state exercises the right to preserve what it considers worth-preserving. Each tradition has some historical background and represents the soul of the nation. To enjoy these rights, we may conclude the following reasons:
(i) These rights are essential for the coexistence of a democracy in action.
(ii) This right promotes national unity among the various states which belong to different races, castes, religion and cultures.
(iii) This right guarantees that minorities should not be absorbed in the majority whereas they should also be given the right to determine their culture and civilization along with majority communities.
(iv) This right provided more national security because the majority and minority both enjoy the right to determine their own affairs in the way they lined. But the right of self-determination results in the following challenges.
(a) It may hinder the smooth functioning of administration in multi-national states like India, USSR because each section makes efforts to find out one’s own way.
(b) Sometimes, this right finds it difficult to frame a public opinion for the success of democracy because everyone would develop its own identity only.The right of self-determination resulted:
(i) Disintegration of states, i.e. Russia, Austria, Hungary
(ii) Resulted in the unification of states like Germany and Italy.
(iii) Resulted in the formation of states like Czechoslovakia and Finland. Hence, it can be concluded that the right of self-determination can be also used for both purpose of national integration and disintegration.

Q3. “We have seen that nationalism can unite people as well as divide them, liberate them as well generate bitterness and conflict”. Illustrate your answer with examples.
Answer: Nationalism requires to be studied due to its important role in the world affairs.
(a) Nationalism has united the people and divided them also to liberate them from oppressive rule and has been the cause of conflict and wars.
(b) Nationalism has contributed to the drawing and re-drawing of the boundaries of states and empires.
(c) Nationalism has been a factor in the break of empires and states.
(d) Nationalism has gone through various processes/passes, i.e. it led to the unification of a number of small kingdoms into large nation states as Italy, Germany, etc.
(e) Even at present a large part of the world is divided into different nation-states and separatist struggles within existing states are common.
(f) Nationalism has also accompanied to the break up of empires like Austro-Hungarian (in the end of 1919 or 1920), break of colonial Britain, France, Dutch, and Portuguese in Asia and Africa.

Q4. Neither descent, nor language, nor religion or ethnicity can claim to be a common factor in nationalisms all over the world. Comment.
Answer:
 It is commonly believed that nations are constituted by a group who shares certain features as descent, or language or religion or ethnicity.
 But there is in fact no common set of characteristics to be present in all nations.
 Many nations do not have common language, i.e.Canada includes English speaking and French speaking people in India also has a large number of languages to be spoken in different religions.
 Many nations do not have common religion to unite them. And some is applicable to other characteristics, i.e. race or descent. Hence, a nation is to a great extent an imagined
community held together by the collective beliefs,aspirations and imagination of its members.

Q5. Illustrate with suitable examples the factors that lead to the emergence of nationalist feelings.
Answer:
 A common motherland emerges the feeling of nationalism because people belonging to one place  are mutually bound to love their motherland, i.e. the Jews stayed far away from motherland still it kept their nationalism alive.
 Common culture refers for customs and traditions,ideas, art and literature, dress, food, etc. through which people start understanding one another to live in harmony and cooperation. Hence, it emerges nationalism.
 Common language also emerges nationalism as people understand and come nearer to each other by their expressions together to bind them. Through language, the people develop some habits as well as adopt some ways of life.
 Common religion also contributes to the emergence of nationality as the people remain under the command of a religious leader and the spirit of oneness is developed among all followers of religion.
 Lastly most important thing is, a nation is constituted by belief. Nations are not like mountains, rivers or buildings which we can see and feel. It is to refer to the collective identity and vision for the future of a group which aspires to have an independent political existence.A nation exists when its members believe that they belong together.

Q6. How is a democracy more effective than authoritarian governments in dealing with conflicting nationalist aspirations?
Answer:
Democratic government is more effective than authoritarian government in dealing with conflicting nationalist aspirations.
1. A democracy is the most acceptable form of government in the world. Authoritarian types of government are not liked and accepted nowadays.
2. In a democracy, it is shared commitment to a set of political values and ideals that is the most desirable basis of a political community or a nation state. Within it, members of political community are bound by a set of obligations.These obligations arise from the recognition of the rights of each other as citizens.
3. A nation is strengthened when its people acknowledge and accept their obligations to their fellow members. It is more easily possible in a democracy than in an authoritarian government.We might even say that recognisation of democratic framework government provide enough chances and more favourable atmosphere that in an authoritarian government.Mutual respect and cooperation is the strongest test of loyalty to the nation.

Q7. What do you think are the limitations of nationalism?
Answer:
1. A territory creates a nation and inhabitants of that particular territory create nationalism but the world is divided into different nations and states, even though the process of re-ordering of state boundaries has not come to an end due to separatist struggles in the existing states.
2. The people of new states acquired a new political identity based on membership of nation along with the state loyalties and common languages.
3. It is quite difficult to arrive at a precise and widely accepted definition of nationalism.
4. The struggle for freedom from colonial rule by India and other former colonies were nationalist struggles with the desire to be independent of foreign control, i.e Austro-Hungarian, Russian, French, Dutch, Portuguese empires, etc.
5. The process of drawing state boundaries have also been confronted by nationalist demands including separate statehood.
6. Even today, in many parts of the world, we witness nationalist struggles to threaten to divide the existing states, i.e. Tamils in Sri Lanka, Kurds in Turkey and Iraq, Basques in
northern Spain, etc.
7. Nationalism has also passed through many phases, i.e. Germany and Italy’s unification and consolidation