THE DISADVANTAGES AND EVILS OF NATIONALISM

Nationalism has been credited with--or blamed for--making our world what it is today.  Indeed, the two most potent influences in modern history have been said to be industrialization and nationalism. 

Nationalism has been awarded the further distinction of being "the most emotionally powerful force in world politics." (Clark and Sohn, Introduction to World Peace through World Law).  And it has been criticized as being a force that "ties people to states...[instead of] international or global instutions."  It is the motive force behind the political aganda of just about every nation on earth; and it has been able to generate more allegiance among citizens than any other political concept to date.  It has been said to have often arisen out of hatred, on the part of a people for neighbors; and/or from envy, by less successful peoples, directed toward foreigners who remind them of their own inadequacies.  It has at times been perceived as a "new religion," by reason of its capability of fostering such strong feelings and sentimants; sentiments often culminating in people's willingness to sacrifice life and property on its behalf.

Nationalism divides people into a number of groups, or "nations."  A "nation," being a political term, is not the same as religious, or class, or linguistic identity.  There are of course numerous instances where people sharing a common religion, class status, or language, nevertheless belong to separate nation-states.  The citizens of a nation generally possess a sense of national identity, which springs from a self-perception of uniqueness within the community of man. 

Nationalism has been described as a combination of love for one's country together with suspicion of foreigners.  The love arises from familiarity with local surroundings, a sense of shared values, and an assumption of shared ancestry.  The suspicion results from a belief that the "foreigners" are "different," and thus do not share their values or lineage.  The citizens of each nation-state, and their leaders in particular, ordinarily favor their own interests, and those of their particular nation, over the interests of humanity or the world in general.

The principle of the "separate nation" arose in the early years of the sixteenth century among the people of what would be England; somewhat later among the French; but not until the early nineteenth century in Germany.  Today, it is a principle shared the world over.