Nationalism

Michael Lacewingenquiries@alevelphilosophy.co

.uk

Nation v. state

• State: political structure that is sovereign, defining the legal rights and obligations of citizens, and claiming a monopoly on the use of force

• Nation: a group of people united in some way – States can contain more than one nation

(UK?); one nation can exist in more than one state (Kurds)

National identity

• Nations involves ‘national identity’, normally understood in ethnic and/or cultural terms.

• Members are born into and raised with a particular language, tradition, and culture. This creates a ‘national character’ and sense of unity.

• National identity also connects to a geographical place and historical continuity.

Nationalism

• Nationalism claims (Miller):– that a national identity is a defensible

source of personal identity,– that nations are ethical communities

imposing reciprocal obligations on members which are not owed to outsiders, and

– that nations have a good claim to be politically self-determining

Liberty

• Nationalism can conflict with individual liberty (esp. of minority non-nationals)– Promotion of national culture can undermine

diversity– Traditional national identity can conflict with

individual autonomy and creativity

• Liberal state should– Be neutral between cultures and promote

diversity– Promote autonomy and diversity

Positive liberty

• National self-determination is a form of self-expression, and so (collective) positive liberty

• Individual positive liberty involves being able to make meaningful choices– This requires a background of values and

meanings – culture and morality– Liberty requires self-restraint – grounded

in communal identification

Objections

• But are nations this kind of community?

• Must the state adopt nationalism?• Not all nationalisms support liberty• Only a liberal national identity

solves the tension between nationalism and liberty

Immigration

• The right to leave a state: democracy is based on consent.

• The right to enter a state?– There are many restrictions on freedom of

movement, e.g. private property, environmental values, national security

• Self-determination: any group may decide who can join

• Protection of cohesion and values• No defence in multi-cultural states

International justice

• Can nation-states choose different principles of justice (self-determination)?

• Does justice require nationals and non-nationals to be treated the same way?– Even if special duties are owed to fellow

nationals, there will still be some duties owed to non-nationals.

Nationalism on justice

• Global justice will undermine national self-determination.

• Massive transfers of resources outside the nation may undermine national solidarity, which provide the motivation for redistribution.

• But it is still not shown that we should not meet non-national needs over national interests.

Miller on global justice

• Different nations understand different things by justice– Goods – money, work, status, opportunity– Principles – competition & desert,

collaboration and need

• Basic human rights necessary: conditions needed to live minimally adequate human life– But relative inequality between states is not

an issue