Thursday, June 26, 2003
American Nationalism
I have never been much of a fan of nationalism and the nation state. And when I see nationalists in India co-opt what is fundamentally a European concept with astonishing fervour at a time when the Europeans are trying out a different experiment, I have to wonder whether historical context matters to anyone. I have also been struck by how nationalistic Americans are despite their best attempts to deny this. A recent article in Foreign Policy addresses this issue extremely well.
As befits a nation of immigrants, American nationalism is defined not by notions of ethnic superiority, but by a belief in the supremacy of U.S. democratic ideals. This disdain for Old World nationalism creates a dual paradox in the American psyche: First, although the United States is highly nationalistic, it doesn’t see itself as such. Second, despite this nationalistic fervor, U.S. policymakers generally fail to appreciate the power of nationalism abroad.
As befits a nation of immigrants, American nationalism is defined not by notions of ethnic superiority, but by a belief in the supremacy of U.S. democratic ideals. This disdain for Old World nationalism creates a dual paradox in the American psyche: First, although the United States is highly nationalistic, it doesn’t see itself as such. Second, despite this nationalistic fervor, U.S. policymakers generally fail to appreciate the power of nationalism abroad.
