Nationalism and Culture

Nationalism and CultureIS 1. Introduction to International Relations

General Observations (post-Cold War)

Nationalism Revisiting difference between◦State◦Nation

Nationalism◦System of belief or ideology in which the welfare of the nation is

considered paramount◦Collective state of mind in which people believe their primary

duty is to the nation

Implications of Nationalism Upside:◦Provides the cohesiveness necessary for the modern nation-

state◦Bonds that hold modern nation-states

Downside:◦National self-interest often excludes the rights of other nations◦Can be source of international conflicts

Overview of Armed Conflicts

Nationalism Relatively recent phenomenon◦ French Revolution◦Nationalism became a factor in IR in late 19th century

French Revolution◦Popular sovereignty – sovereignty resides in the people, not in the

monarch◦King Louis XIV – “I am the State.”◦Nationalistic sentiment was unleashed in the French Revolution

Nationalism as a Movement National self-determination

◦Movement after World War I

◦Wilson’s Fourteen Points

Justified right to national self-determination

Nationalism and IRNationalism

◦Seed for both inter- and intra-state conflicts

◦ Interstate wars

Due to competing national claims

Secessionism (e.g. Moro secessionism)

Culture vs. Civilization Culture◦ Integrated system of socially acquired values, beliefs, and rules of

conduct which delimit the range of accepted behaviors in any given society

◦Distinguishes one society from the others

Civilization◦Broader concept◦Highest cultural grouping of people and the broadest level of

cultural identity that people have

Samuel Huntington, Clash of Civilizations

Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations

“The fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic. The great division among humankind and dominating source of conflict will be cultural…The fault lines between civilizations will be the battle lines of the future.”

-Samuel P. Huntington

Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations Clash is part of historic development

Conflict always the feature

◦ Pre-Westphalia: Between feudal lords◦ Westphalia and post-: Between monarchs◦ WWI and WWII: Between nations◦ Cold war: Between ideologies◦ Post-Cold War: Clash of Civilizations

Distinct Civilizations (accdg. to Huntington)

1. Western (includes Japan)2. Sinic3. Islamic4. Hindu5. Slavic-Orthodox – former Soviet Union6. Latin American7. Buddhist8. African

Predominance of Western culture in modern era…

Distinct Civilizations (Accdg. to Huntington)

Significance of Civilizations In post Cold War era (according to Huntington)

◦ Ideological struggle may have been over, but civilizational struggle will be on the rise

◦ Cultural differences had been suppressed during the Cold War

Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations Civilizational clash coincided with four historical

developments:

1. Relative decline of the West2. The rise of the Asian economy and its associated cultural

affirmation, with China poised to become the greatest power in history

3. A population explosion in the Muslim World, and the associated resurgence of Islam

4. Impact of globalization

Activity◦Nation◦Nationalism ◦Culture◦Civilization