Nationalism - an ideology or a direction in politics, built on hypertrophied forms of national consciousness, proclaiming the ideas of national superiority and exclusivity. Nationalism has many different manifestations and plays a rather active role in the international political arena.
The main thesis on which the fundamental principles of nationalism are built is the assertion that primacy in the state-building process is the value of a nation as the highest form of social unity. Nationalism has many forms and trends, some of which are fundamentally contradictory to each other. In the political arena, nationalist movements in relations with state power always defend the interests of only a certain national community.
The basis and support of this ideology is a national feeling, very close to patriotism. Loyalty and devotion to one’s nation, work for the good of the nation, political independence, unification of national identity, cultural and spiritual growth of the nation: these are the main slogans promoted by nationalism.
In the modern world, there are several forms of nationalist movements that solve their tasks, defined by ideology. The famous Jewish historian and philosopher Hans Cohn introduced such concepts as ethnic and political nationalism into the classification of nationalism - these species are considered the main forms of this ideology throughout the world. He also argued that both of these concepts are inherent in any mature nation that exists in the world, and many experts in this matter fully agree with him.
Political Nationalism
This form also has other names: political, western, civil or revolutionary democratic. Political nationalism is based on the assertion that the degree of legitimacy of a state is determined by the active participation of its citizens in political decision-making processes. The main tool for determining the degree of state participation in representing the “will of the nation” is a survey of citizens, which may take the form of elections, referenda, public issues, etc.
The affiliation of each person to a nation is determined only by his personal choice - to be a citizen of a given state and a desire to live with others in a single territory. Political nationalism is considered a recognized international legal norm in modern life.
The political form of nationalism also has two subspecies: state and liberal nationalism. The concept of state nationalism is based on the fact that only people who solve the tasks of strengthening and maintaining the power of the state form a nation. Any interests and rights independent of these tasks are not recognized in principle, as they are considered violations of the unity of the nation.
“Medvedev is no less, in a good sense of the word, Russian nationalist than I. I don’t think our partners will be easier with him. He is a true patriot who actively defends Russia's interests in the international arena, ” Vladimir Putin.
Liberal nationalism preaches the universal values of human rights, arguing that moral patriotic categories should occupy a subordinate position towards them.
"The power, greatness and wealth of the whole state consists in the reproduction and preservation of the Russian people, and not in a vain territory without inhabitants, " Mikhail Lomonosov.
Ethnic nationalism
He claims that the nation is a phase of the development of the ethnic group, that blood ties, language, traditions, religion, history, community, and origin unite the members of the nation. At present, political movements that focus specifically on ethnic nationalism are called "nationalist."
The most active supporters of the nationalization of ethnic nationalism are, as a rule, representatives of ethnic elites who are close to power or are eager for power. In a state built on the principles of ethnic nationalism, there is less competition and more opportunities to gain and maintain power.
