Nationalism typically refers to the feeling one has about their nation and their sense of belonging on the basis of a shared, unifying language, worldview, and set of customs. The term may also refer to action motivated by this feeling of love, respect, or a desire to protect or promote one's own nation. Nations differ from states in two regards.
- A nation is unified by a shared identity.
- A state, which may also be a nation, has political power over a territory and those who live there. States are not necessarily unified by a shared ethnic or national identity.
Historically, nationalism has inspired and rallied many to work in favor of their nation. Napoleon very effectively used nationalism and the French values of equality, brotherhood, and freedom to unify France after the Revolution. Nationalism can also have the effect of unifying a nation for their own betterment at the expense of another group- as with the Nazi party of Germany during the first half of the twentieth century.
Quite generally, nationalism is dependent upon a shared identity and love for this identity. More of the variation occurs in the practice of nationalism and may involve the oppression or suppression of other group identities, propaganda, and ritual which reinforces a nationalist identity.
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