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What is Nationalism
The term nationalism cannot be given a watertight definition because it has a variety of meanings, Mark Suzman in his book ‘Ethnic Nationalism and state power’ states that ‘ nationalism can be broadly defined as a political ideology insisting that the state be controlled by the nation.’ He further explains this by stating that the state is a legal and political organization with sovereignty over a designated territory and population and that the nation is a political mobilized ethnic group seeking to secure power.’1 In this brief statement, suzman has given a definition of the Nation and state, which play a major role in the idea of nationalism. Nationalism cannot be defined without the aid of these two cartels.
Many scholars in their bid to explain what nationalism is have time and time again gone back to the roots of nationalism. Most have tried to illustrate this ideology by explaining it in terms of its historical developments. Anthony D. smith in his book ‘Nationalism’ states, ‘the first clear statement of this ideal (nationalism) occurs during the French revolution. Here we read that the only sovereign is the nation, that man’s first loyalty is to the nation, and that the nation alone can make laws for it’s citizens.’ Smith goes on further to state that the French revolution was where for the first time ‘citizens sought to impose a single culture and language on all the regions of their country, to break down all the barriers between those regions, to become one nation devoted to a single ideal.3
The author Elie Kedourie also agreed with the concept that Nationalism first gained prominence during the French revolution, in his book ‘Nationalism’ he states that the French revolution brought with it a climate of thought that was necessary for the development and spread of doctrines such as nationalism. He also states that the revolution which gave birth to Nationalism was meant to uplift the role of a citizen and make it possible for the citizens of a nation to change a ruler if they were no longer satisfied with the political arrangements of their society.’4Hahns Khon states that ‘nationalism’s first great manifestation was the French revolution which gave the new movement an increased dynamic force, it was one of the most powerful political factors in it’s intensification and spread.’ 5
Ernest Gellner in his book ‘Nations and Nationalism’ states that, ‘In fact, nations, like states, are a contingency, and not a universal necessity. Neither nations nor states exist at all times and in all circumstances. Moreover, nations and states are not the same contingency. Nationalism holds that they were destined for each other; that either without the other is incomplete, and constitutes a tragedy. But before they could become intended for each other, each of them had to emerge, and their emergence was independent and contingent. The state has certainly emerged without the help of the nation. Some nations have certainly emerged without the blessings of their own state.
It is more debatable whether the [next page]