Debate: Nationalism is a Positive Force for a Country

Post date: Feb 10, 2015 9:42:24 PM

Overview: Generally speaking, this debate has two ways it can go--both valid. You could use historical views on nationalism--usually written by people trying to organize others against an occupying force (Mazzini,, Palacky, etc.). Others argue that countries can be stronger if they are united culturally and politically and that it is morally right and just to do so. There are examples here of positive nationalism and negative nationalism--I'll leave it to you to figure out which is which. I should note that there are elements of both in some arguments.

Nationalism isn't a dead concept either. Modern views on nationalism I included are primarily about America; the discussion primarily focuses on whether or not America is especially great among other countries. It's an interesting idea (American Exceptionalism) and, as expected, there are varying views on it; conservatives tend to favor the idea of American Exceptionalism whereas liberals tend to be more hesitant on that. I also threw in a few generalizations on Nationalism from various viewpoints.

Historical Views on Nationalism

Ernst Arndt on the German Fatherland: http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/arndt-vaterland.asp

Johann Fichte on German Nationalism: http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1806fichte.asp

Johann Herder on German Nationalism: http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1784herder-mankind.asp

Palacky on Czech Nationalism: http://spinnet.eu/images/2010-12/letter_by_palacky.pdf

Mazzini on Italian Nationalism: http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1852mazzini.asp

Richard Price on Love of Country: http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1789price-patriotism.asp

John O'Sullivan on American Nationalism: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/osulliva.htm

George Orwell on Nationalism: http://orwell.ru/library/essays/nationalism/english/e_nat

Discussion of Nationalism as a Tool of Hitler: http://nationalismwesterncivilization.weebly.com/hitler.html

Analysis of how Hitler Used German Nationalism: http://www.e-ir.info/2011/05/16/adolf-hitlers-account-of-the-%E2%80%98nation%E2%80%99-and-%E2%80%98nationalism%E2%80%99/

Modern Views on Nationalism

Good & Bad Nationalism: http://prospect.org/article/good-and-bad-nationalism

National Public Radio on Nationalism: http://www.npr.org/2011/09/28/140869378/americas-love-affair-with-nationalism

Democratic View on "Negative Nationalism": http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/08/30/774340/-Negative-Nationalism

Conservative View on Nationalism: http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2014/10/persistence-of-nationalism.html

What is American Exceptionalism? http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/02/opinion/lake-america-exceptional/

Criticism on the Idea of "American Exceptionalism": http://www.salon.com/2013/05/26/american_exceptionalism_is_a_dangerous_myth/

Another Attack on American Exceptionalism: http://www.thenation.com/article/185305/its-time-rethink-american-exceptionalism

Mixed View of American Exceptionalism: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/americanexceptionalism.htm