Nationalism

Nationalism — the belief that a group of people sharing common language, culture, history, and territory constitutes a 'nation' that deserves its own sovereign state — is one of the most powerful political forces of the modern era. It has created nations, destroyed empires, inspired liberation movements, and fueled devastating wars.

Nationalism emerged from the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, which established the principle that sovereignty belongs to 'the people' rather than a monarch. In the 19th century, it drove the unification of Italy and Germany, the independence of Greece and Belgium, and the aspirations of Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, and other peoples trapped within multi-ethnic empires. Romantic nationalism celebrated folk traditions, national languages, and historical myths as expressions of the national spirit.

The 20th century demonstrated nationalism's dual nature. It inspired anti-colonial movements across Asia and Africa, giving voice to peoples subjugated by European empires. But it also fueled the aggressive expansionism of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, and contributed to ethnic cleansing and genocide when national identity was defined by exclusion. Nationalism remains a potent force in the 21st century — capable of both empowering oppressed peoples and threatening the peace of multi-ethnic societies.