To what extent do nationalists agree over human nature?
PARAGRAPH 1:
- Some nationalists have a pessimistic view of human nature.
- Conservative nationalists and expansionist nationalists have a pessimistic view in that they see humans
as not rational and security seeking.
- CN – see human nature as driving the desire to belong to nation based around a common culture that is
distinctive and needs to be protected by the state.
- EN commitment to the nation is all encompassing; an integral nationalism that places the nation above
the individual.
- We can conclude from this that some nationalists have a pessimistic view of human nature.
- Liberal and anti/post-colonial nationalists have a more positive view of human nature.
- Based on a rationalist and progressive view of human nature.
- More positive view of human nature and how they view the nation – leads to a more inclusive
understanding of nationhood and a belief in the ability to live and work together in harmony.
- We can reach a verdict that liberal and anti/post-colonial nationalists do not have a pessimistic view of
human nature and have a more inclusive sense of nationhood.
PARAGRAPH 2:
- Some nationalists’ pessimistic views of human nature impact on their view of other nations.
- CN view of human nature leads to a need for the state to reflect the distinct national spirit and culture of
each nation (von Herder).
- EN – view is based on chauvinism; the feeling of superiority to other nations (Maurras) and the desire to
dominate the,
- We can form a judgement that conservative and expansionist nationalists have a pessimistic view of HN
and this impacts on their view of other nations.
- LN and A/PC have a more positive view of human nature and this impacts on how they view the other
nations.
- Leads to the view that anyone with shared values can form or join a nation.
- Liberal internationalism is also based on the belief in nations working together promotes mutual
understanding and cooperation.
- We can form a judgement that this positive view of HN impacts on their nationalist outlook.
, To what extent do nationalists agree that the nation is based on a shared culture?
INTRO: define culture and differentiate from citizenship (civic) and race (racialism)
PARAGRAPH 1:
- Conservative nationalists fully agree – Von Herder, distinctive separate cultures; need to defend culture,
assimilate; outline elements of culture that are important – language, religion, tradition, history etc. potential
for xenophobia to develop.
- Anti-colonialists – some agree e.g. Kurdish, Welsh, Catalan nationalism, but some are racialist (Garvey) and
some are more inclusive (Gandhi)
Mini conclusion – more similar than different – agree to a greater extent.
PARAGRAPH 2:
- Expansionist nationalists
o May focus on culture and so agree to a limited extent (Maurras – Pays Real vs Pays Legal)
o the British Empire ‘civilising’ indigenous population around the globe
o but tend to be more fundamentally racialist – Britain was more exploitative of indigenous rather
than settler populations; the Nazis idea of Aryan superiority was based on physical and intellectual
comparisons (false).
- Liberal nationalists
o may agree to some extent focus on culture (e.g., Liberal cultural nationalism in Wales, Scotland,
and Catalunya – focused on protection of language and heritage of a nation within a dominant multi-
national state)
o but tends to be more fundamentally civic and multicultural.
o It might even be argued that civic nationalism as understood by Rousseau – has a cultural as well as
rational foundation – e.g., the ‘general will’ builds from common cultural understandings in a relatively
homogeneous society, and liberal nationalist values of individualism and free are an important part of
the political culture of the nation.
Mini conclusion – although both would disagree that the nation is based primarily on shared culture, it is for entirely
different reasons.
MAIN CONCLUSION:
- Overall seems that most nationalists agree to the basic proposition that a shared culture is part of the
foundation of a nation.
- However, the extent to which they prioritise culture as the central pillar of that foundation varies widely.
- Conservative nationalists argue strongly in favour, and other nationalists place much less emphasis on culture
and instead prioritise race or citizenship more highly.
- Therefore, nationalists disagree to a large extent that the nation is based on a shared culture.
PARAGRAPH 1:
- Some nationalists have a pessimistic view of human nature.
- Conservative nationalists and expansionist nationalists have a pessimistic view in that they see humans
as not rational and security seeking.
- CN – see human nature as driving the desire to belong to nation based around a common culture that is
distinctive and needs to be protected by the state.
- EN commitment to the nation is all encompassing; an integral nationalism that places the nation above
the individual.
- We can conclude from this that some nationalists have a pessimistic view of human nature.
- Liberal and anti/post-colonial nationalists have a more positive view of human nature.
- Based on a rationalist and progressive view of human nature.
- More positive view of human nature and how they view the nation – leads to a more inclusive
understanding of nationhood and a belief in the ability to live and work together in harmony.
- We can reach a verdict that liberal and anti/post-colonial nationalists do not have a pessimistic view of
human nature and have a more inclusive sense of nationhood.
PARAGRAPH 2:
- Some nationalists’ pessimistic views of human nature impact on their view of other nations.
- CN view of human nature leads to a need for the state to reflect the distinct national spirit and culture of
each nation (von Herder).
- EN – view is based on chauvinism; the feeling of superiority to other nations (Maurras) and the desire to
dominate the,
- We can form a judgement that conservative and expansionist nationalists have a pessimistic view of HN
and this impacts on their view of other nations.
- LN and A/PC have a more positive view of human nature and this impacts on how they view the other
nations.
- Leads to the view that anyone with shared values can form or join a nation.
- Liberal internationalism is also based on the belief in nations working together promotes mutual
understanding and cooperation.
- We can form a judgement that this positive view of HN impacts on their nationalist outlook.
, To what extent do nationalists agree that the nation is based on a shared culture?
INTRO: define culture and differentiate from citizenship (civic) and race (racialism)
PARAGRAPH 1:
- Conservative nationalists fully agree – Von Herder, distinctive separate cultures; need to defend culture,
assimilate; outline elements of culture that are important – language, religion, tradition, history etc. potential
for xenophobia to develop.
- Anti-colonialists – some agree e.g. Kurdish, Welsh, Catalan nationalism, but some are racialist (Garvey) and
some are more inclusive (Gandhi)
Mini conclusion – more similar than different – agree to a greater extent.
PARAGRAPH 2:
- Expansionist nationalists
o May focus on culture and so agree to a limited extent (Maurras – Pays Real vs Pays Legal)
o the British Empire ‘civilising’ indigenous population around the globe
o but tend to be more fundamentally racialist – Britain was more exploitative of indigenous rather
than settler populations; the Nazis idea of Aryan superiority was based on physical and intellectual
comparisons (false).
- Liberal nationalists
o may agree to some extent focus on culture (e.g., Liberal cultural nationalism in Wales, Scotland,
and Catalunya – focused on protection of language and heritage of a nation within a dominant multi-
national state)
o but tends to be more fundamentally civic and multicultural.
o It might even be argued that civic nationalism as understood by Rousseau – has a cultural as well as
rational foundation – e.g., the ‘general will’ builds from common cultural understandings in a relatively
homogeneous society, and liberal nationalist values of individualism and free are an important part of
the political culture of the nation.
Mini conclusion – although both would disagree that the nation is based primarily on shared culture, it is for entirely
different reasons.
MAIN CONCLUSION:
- Overall seems that most nationalists agree to the basic proposition that a shared culture is part of the
foundation of a nation.
- However, the extent to which they prioritise culture as the central pillar of that foundation varies widely.
- Conservative nationalists argue strongly in favour, and other nationalists place much less emphasis on culture
and instead prioritise race or citizenship more highly.
- Therefore, nationalists disagree to a large extent that the nation is based on a shared culture.
