EDEXCEL A LEVEL POLITICS NATIONALISM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
19th century nationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -
based on cultural surroundings, increasing independence (belguim 1831, greece 1829)
20th century nationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -
french revolution, unification in italy, 1919 treaty of versailles, conservative nationalism grew (hitler)
21st century nationalism -vCORRECT ANSWER -nazism, fascism, re-
emergence of nativism (make america great again)
Self Determination - CORRECT ANSWER -
Nations which aspire to self government should be granted sovereignty
States should respect the sovereignty of each nation
Started with Jeans-Jacques Rousseau as a reaction to absolutists monarchy
At the time, many countries were colonies of empires so didn't have it
Became more important in the 19th century as more empires were dismantled
Nation State - CORRECT ANSWER -
Avgroup of people who have a collective identity in a geographical area with clear boundaries which beco
mes a political entity
Liberal nationalists - CORRECT ANSWER -world of nation states
Chauvinisticvnationalists - CORRECT ANSWER -
some nations are stronger and are the only one who should benefit -
other nations should accept their position as colonies
Multinational states - CORRECT ANSWER -have more than 1 nation within them
Not all have a single national identity -
their unity is based on political views (british/english/scottish/irish)
Some nationsvexist within another nation state and only want respect for their culture (wales)
,Self determination v. colonialism - CORRECT ANSWER -
becoming an empire has been the aim of monarchs and countries throughout history
Civil nationalism -vCORRECT ANSWER -
a form of nationalism based on a shared vision of an individual's duty to observe given laws and in turn re
ceive legal privileges
Johann gottfried von herder said that each nation has its own volksgeist -
the spirit of the nation, a unique identity based on unique experiences, history and culture
Expansionist nationalist - CORRECT ANSWER -
the idea that one nation's volksgeist can be superior to that of other nations, therefore justifying imperiali
sm and domination
Herder rejected this idea, writing that 'notwithstanding the varieties of the human form, there is but one
and the same species of man throughout earth'
takes time to developvbecause someone may know the language and be a citizen by it may take years of a
bsorbing the culture to be genuine
people want to protect a nation's unique culture, without necessarily focussing on specific ambitions for s
tatehood, for example wales want welsh to be recognised as a language but aren't as bothered by indepe
ndence as scotland
Itvlinks tovpatriotism as it may result in a willingness to make sacrifices to promote the country's best inter
ests
Racialism -vCORRECT ANSWER -
The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities or qualities specificvto that race,
especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race
Ideas are rooted in thevbelief that humanity is not one single human race, but can be meaningfully divide
d into separate races
The differences between races are biological and fixed
The different traits make certain races good/bad at things which creates a hierarchy
Then racial segregation is used to prevent 'pollution'
Internationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -people of the world should unite and connect across boundaries
, Liberal internationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -
the idea that sovereign nations should cooperate and create a level of independence to avoid internation
al conflict
Aim for a world of independent nation states
Assume that independent nations will seek to cooperate with each other as and when they need to -
economically, educationally and culturally
Socialist internationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -
class solidarity is more powerful and politically significant than national identity, incompatible with nation
alism
Marx (nationalism/patriotism) - CORRECT ANSWER -
believed nationalism and patriotism were ways of keeping social class, it creates 'false consciousness'
Lenin (capitalism) - CORRECT ANSWER -
believed capitalism survived because the indigenous workers had been 'brought off' with increased wage
s and better conditions as the 'home community' exploited the colonies it took
Human Nature (civic nationalism) - CORRECT ANSWER -
a rational form of nationalism, as it is based on citizen actively participating in society as equals
It's rational, inclusive and progressive
It promotes mutual respect for rights and national identities, believing that sovereign nations should coop
erate to create interdependence and avoid conflict
Human Nature (expansionist nationalism) - CORRECT ANSWER -
More of an emotional, irrational approach to nationalism, with a focus on volksgeist
Itvtakes time to be part of a nation
Expansionist, chauvinistic forms of nationalism are the most irrational
The State - CORRECT ANSWER -All nationalistsvrecognise the role of the state in the sense of a nation state
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-2027
19th century nationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -
based on cultural surroundings, increasing independence (belguim 1831, greece 1829)
20th century nationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -
french revolution, unification in italy, 1919 treaty of versailles, conservative nationalism grew (hitler)
21st century nationalism -vCORRECT ANSWER -nazism, fascism, re-
emergence of nativism (make america great again)
Self Determination - CORRECT ANSWER -
Nations which aspire to self government should be granted sovereignty
States should respect the sovereignty of each nation
Started with Jeans-Jacques Rousseau as a reaction to absolutists monarchy
At the time, many countries were colonies of empires so didn't have it
Became more important in the 19th century as more empires were dismantled
Nation State - CORRECT ANSWER -
Avgroup of people who have a collective identity in a geographical area with clear boundaries which beco
mes a political entity
Liberal nationalists - CORRECT ANSWER -world of nation states
Chauvinisticvnationalists - CORRECT ANSWER -
some nations are stronger and are the only one who should benefit -
other nations should accept their position as colonies
Multinational states - CORRECT ANSWER -have more than 1 nation within them
Not all have a single national identity -
their unity is based on political views (british/english/scottish/irish)
Some nationsvexist within another nation state and only want respect for their culture (wales)
,Self determination v. colonialism - CORRECT ANSWER -
becoming an empire has been the aim of monarchs and countries throughout history
Civil nationalism -vCORRECT ANSWER -
a form of nationalism based on a shared vision of an individual's duty to observe given laws and in turn re
ceive legal privileges
Johann gottfried von herder said that each nation has its own volksgeist -
the spirit of the nation, a unique identity based on unique experiences, history and culture
Expansionist nationalist - CORRECT ANSWER -
the idea that one nation's volksgeist can be superior to that of other nations, therefore justifying imperiali
sm and domination
Herder rejected this idea, writing that 'notwithstanding the varieties of the human form, there is but one
and the same species of man throughout earth'
takes time to developvbecause someone may know the language and be a citizen by it may take years of a
bsorbing the culture to be genuine
people want to protect a nation's unique culture, without necessarily focussing on specific ambitions for s
tatehood, for example wales want welsh to be recognised as a language but aren't as bothered by indepe
ndence as scotland
Itvlinks tovpatriotism as it may result in a willingness to make sacrifices to promote the country's best inter
ests
Racialism -vCORRECT ANSWER -
The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities or qualities specificvto that race,
especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race
Ideas are rooted in thevbelief that humanity is not one single human race, but can be meaningfully divide
d into separate races
The differences between races are biological and fixed
The different traits make certain races good/bad at things which creates a hierarchy
Then racial segregation is used to prevent 'pollution'
Internationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -people of the world should unite and connect across boundaries
, Liberal internationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -
the idea that sovereign nations should cooperate and create a level of independence to avoid internation
al conflict
Aim for a world of independent nation states
Assume that independent nations will seek to cooperate with each other as and when they need to -
economically, educationally and culturally
Socialist internationalism - CORRECT ANSWER -
class solidarity is more powerful and politically significant than national identity, incompatible with nation
alism
Marx (nationalism/patriotism) - CORRECT ANSWER -
believed nationalism and patriotism were ways of keeping social class, it creates 'false consciousness'
Lenin (capitalism) - CORRECT ANSWER -
believed capitalism survived because the indigenous workers had been 'brought off' with increased wage
s and better conditions as the 'home community' exploited the colonies it took
Human Nature (civic nationalism) - CORRECT ANSWER -
a rational form of nationalism, as it is based on citizen actively participating in society as equals
It's rational, inclusive and progressive
It promotes mutual respect for rights and national identities, believing that sovereign nations should coop
erate to create interdependence and avoid conflict
Human Nature (expansionist nationalism) - CORRECT ANSWER -
More of an emotional, irrational approach to nationalism, with a focus on volksgeist
Itvtakes time to be part of a nation
Expansionist, chauvinistic forms of nationalism are the most irrational
The State - CORRECT ANSWER -All nationalistsvrecognise the role of the state in the sense of a nation state
