Nationalism is the political belief that some group of people represents a natural community which should live under one political system, be independent of others and, often, has the right to demand an equal standing in the world order with others. Although sometimes a genuine and widespread belief, especially under conditions of foreign rule, it is equally often a symbolic tool used by political leaders to control their citizens. Some political leaders have made use of nationalism by stressing national unity and focusing on threats from those who are clearly ‘foreign’ or ‘different’ to disguise or to execute otherwise unpopular policies.
At its simplest nationalism contrasts with internationalist movements or creeds, and means a stress on local, at times almost tribal, identities and loyalties. Whether one sees nationalism as natural and desirable, or as a threat to world peace or rational organization, is almost entirely a subjective value. In fact the doctrine of nationalism, although widely acknowledged, cannot be very clearly defined (see nation and nation state). The racial, cultural and historical affinities normally associated with nationality might better be ascribed to ethnicity, as the structure of nations and nationality has frequently been artificially, or at least deliberately, created by politicians and governments.
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