Are You a Nationalist or a Patriot? Understanding the Difference
Nationalism and Patriotism are too often used interchangeably in today’s taut political discourse. They are distinct politic philosophies despite Nationalism’s tendency to masquerade in the nobler ideals of Patriotism. A Nationalist wrapped in an American flag is not a Patriot.
My recent travels through the American southwest, from Los Angeles to Texas to Oklahoma and back, brought these differences into stark clarity. Given the nature of our politics right now, individual states feel more like individual countries than a single union. Yet, it’s important to separate the stars from the stripes, understand how Nationalism markets itself as Patriotism, and how to spot the difference.
Defining Nationalism
The Merrian-Webster dictionary defines Nationalism as “a loyalty and devotion to one’s country with a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.”
While Nationalism and Patriotism share a common loyalty and devotion to country, the similarities end there. Nationalism by definition is exclusionary, limiting, and self-centered. It proffers that one’s own country is the greatest, that its heritage makes it the greatest, and that greatness stems from the in-group which represents that heritage of greatness.
The Nationalist thinks one’s own country is better than any other, and therefore promotes itself at the expense of the global community. At its extremes, Nationalistic countries abandon global treaties and bodies, act with hostility towards other nations, and work to squash dissent by scapegoating minorities and protesting voices. If that sounds like fascism, you’d be correct. The core of the earlier 20th century Fascist regimes of Germany, Japan, Italy, and Spain held deeply Nationalistic philosophies of superiority and societal cohesion.
Unfortunately, Nationalism has been on the rise, like the Front National in France, the UK Independence Party (UKIP), the Italian League, Greek’s Golden Dawn, Hungary’s Jobbik, and Trump’s reformation of the Republican Party.
Before sending your hate mail, here’s an unabridged excerpt Trump’s 4th of July, 2020 address at Mount Rushmore. Determine for yourself if this speech appeals to Nationalism.
PRESIDENT: We will state the truth in full, without apology: We declare that the United States of America is the most just and exceptional nation ever to exist on Earth.
We are proud of the fact — (applause) — that our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and we understand — (applause) — that these values have dramatically advanced the cause of peace and justice throughout the world.
We know that the American family is the bedrock of American life. (Applause.)
We recognize the solemn right and moral duty of every nation to secure its borders. (Applause.) And we are building the wall. (Applause.)
We remember that governments exist to protect the safety and happiness of their own people. A nation must care for its own citizens first. We must take care of America first. It’s time. (Applause.)
We believe in equal opportunity, equal justice, and equal treatment for citizens of every race, background, religion, and creed. Every child, of every color — born and unborn — is made in the holy image of God. (Applause.)
We want free and open debate, not speech codes and cancel culture.
We embrace tolerance, not prejudice.
We support the courageous men and women of law enforcement. (Applause.) We will never abolish our police or our great Second Amendment, which gives us the right to keep and bear arms. (Applause.)
We believe that our children should be taught to love their country, honor our history, and respect our great American flag. (Applause.)
We stand tall, we stand proud, and we only kneel to Almighty God. (Applause.)
This is who we are. This is what we believe. And these are the values that will guide us as we strive to build an even better and greater future.
Those who seek to erase our heritage want Americans to forget our pride and our great dignity, so that we can no longer understand ourselves or America’s destiny. In toppling the heroes of 1776, they seek to dissolve the bonds of love and loyalty that we feel for our country, and that we feel for each other. Their goal is not a better America, their goal is the end of America.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE PRESIDENT: In its place, they want power for themselves. But just as patriots did in centuries past, the American people will stand in their way — and we will win, and win quickly and with great dignity.
It is time for our politicians to summon the bravery and determination of our American ancestors. It is time. (Applause.) It is time to plant our flag and protect the greatest of this nation, for citizens of every race, in every city, and every part of this glorious land. For the sake of our honor, for the sake of our children, for the sake of our union, we must protect and preserve our history, our heritage, and our great heroes. (Applause.)
Here tonight, before the eyes of our forefathers, Americans declare again, as we did 244 years ago: that we will not be tyrannized, we will not be demeaned, and we will not be intimidated by bad, evil people. It will not happen. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
In the excerpt, President Trump states that America is the greatest Nation on earth. That the in-group is people based in the Judeo-Christian tradition. That America comes first and that children should be taught to love and respect America. That there are those in America trying to undermine and destroy America’s heritage. And that Patriots will defend America from these bad, evil people.
Trump’s appeal to American Nationalism is clear. An appeal to American greatness, defending legacy and heritage while labeling those that oppose this view as evil is textbook Nationalism. The Nationalist appeal coopts Patriotism, claiming Patriots will agree with this line of thinking or forsake their love of country. One can argue whether White House policy is good or bad, but its brand of politics, calling for retrenchment into the status quo and resisting change based on blind love for country is not Patriotism — it is Nationalism.
Defining Patriotism
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Patriotism as “love or devotion to one’s country.” This is a bad definition. It is overly broad, failing to distinguish Patriotism from Nationalism and allowing political motivators to coopt its meaning for self-centered ends.
A better definition of Patriotism is offered by political philosopher Alexis de Toqueville. In his seminal book Democracy in America, written just after the American revolution, he distinguishes the Patriotism of Instinct vs. the Patriotism of Reflection. Whereas the Patriotism of Instinct represents the Nationalism described above or “love of country simply by being born of it”; Patriotism of Reflection, true Patriotism, comes from understanding the current state of affairs as inadequate and in need of improvement.
Toqueville writes:
There is another species of attachment to a country which is more rational than the one we have been describing. It is perhaps less generous and less ardent, but it is more fruitful and more lasting; it is coeval with the spread of knowledge, it is nurtured by the laws, it grows by the exercise of civil rights, and, in the end, it is confounded with the personal interest of the citizen. A man comprehends the influence which the prosperity of his country has upon his own welfare; he is aware that the laws authorize him to contribute his assistance to that prosperity, and he labors to promote it as a portion of his interest in the first place, and as a portion of his right in the second.
Put simply, true Patriotism is love of country despite its flaws. Patriotism is understanding the opportunity to make your country better and exercising your civil rights to achieve that betterment.
Patriotism is what Dr. King meant by civil disobedience. What Roosevelt said when he said nothing worth doing is easy. What Abraham Lincoln spoke of when he described a soldier’s ultimate sacrifice for a more perfect union. Patriotism is recognizing inequity, pain, injustice plaguing your own country and working to solve it. In that view of Patriotism, what’s more Patriotic than this?
Or This?
Or This?
Because it is certainly not this.
On this fourth of July week take an opportunity to reflect on your Patriotism. In the words of John F. Kennedy, “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
Happy fourth of July my fellow Patriots.
