What is the difference between nationalism and patriotism?
Retrieved on:
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
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The words nationalism and patriotism are sometimes used as synonyms, such as when Trump and his supporters describe his America First agenda.
Key Points:
- The words nationalism and patriotism are sometimes used as synonyms, such as when Trump and his supporters describe his America First agenda.
- But many political scientists, including me, don’t typically see those two terms as equivalent – or even compatible.
- There is a difference, and it’s important, not just to scholars but to regular citizens as well.
Devotion to a people
- A nation is a group of people who share a history, culture, language, religion or some combination thereof.
- A country, which is sometimes called a state in political science terminology, is an area of land that has its own government.
- A nation-state is a homogeneous political entity mostly comprising a single nation.
- Some of those groups are formally recognized by the federal government, such as the Navajo Nation and the Cherokee Nation.
- Scholars understand nationalism as exclusive, boosting one identity group over – and at times in direct opposition to – others.
Devotion to a place
- In contrast to nationalism’s loyalty for or devotion to one’s nation, patriotism is, per the same dictionary, “love for or devotion to one’s country.” It comes from the word patriot, which itself can be traced back to the Greek word patrios, which means “of one’s father.” In other words, patriotism has historically meant a love for and devotion to one’s fatherland, or country of origin.
- Patriotism encompasses devotion to the country as a whole – including all the people who live within it.
- Nationalism refers to devotion to only one group of people over all others.
Nationalism vs. patriotism
- Adolf Hitler’s rise in Germany was accomplished by perverting patriotism and embracing nationalism.
- After World War II, President Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan, which would provide postwar aid to Europe.
- Rather, he viewed the “principal concern of the people of the United States” to be “the creation of conditions of enduring peace throughout the world.” For him, patriotically putting the interests of his country first meant fighting against nationalism.