what’s the difference between nationalism and patriotism?
In: 1503
The word ‘Patriotism’ comes from the Latin *Patria* – referring to one’s ‘fatherland’ – and can broadly be applied to any political community you are part of. An ancient Roman or Renaissance Florentine would have held their *patria* in high regard – and generally they would have meant their city, region, or community.
The word ‘Nationalism’ is from the Latin *natio* – another Latin term which, at first in the vulgate bible, and then through centuries of use and reuse, ended up implying a particular *kind* of community, united by specific features which might include common behaviours, language, and/or ancestors (aka ethnicity). In other words, a *nation*. Over the course of the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, people (in Europe especially) came to believe that the *nation* should match the *state* – that’s the government – and that everyone’s most important loyalty should be to their nation/state. They also often imagined that the *nation* was like a person: it had personal honour, and a reputation that needed to be protected against others that might challenge, threaten or shame it – with violence if need be.
All this helps explain why quite a lot of people tend to think that *nationalism* is a really nasty thing. If you imagine the *nation* as an ethnic or racial community, then nationalism can (and did) lead to things like the Holocaust. If you imagine your nation’s honour as being threatened, that can lead to stuff like the outbreak of World War One, or China’s modern aggression towards some of its trading partners.
If you just leave the details vague (I like the place I’m from! It’s pretty neat!), you might be less likely to do those kinds of things, and more likely to simply care about your home and try to make it better. That’s why some people think ‘patriotism’ is OK and ‘nationalism’ isn’t.
That said, describing something as ‘patriotism’ or ‘nationalism’ is often a matter of the perspective and purpose of the speaker.
If you want to learn more, I suggest having a look at the works of Benedict Anderson, Rogers Brubaker, Adrian Hastings, and Eric Hobsbawm. They all have different takes on this, but all are really interesting.
People say “patriotism” when they are talking about themselves and people they agree with.
People say “nationalism” when talking about people they don’t like.
Every nationalist thinks they are a patriot. Most self-declared patriots will insist they are not nationalists (including those that other self-declared patriots would very much call that in order to distance from them).
According to Charles de Gaulle :
“Patriotism is when you love your country. Nationalism is when you hate other’s countries”.
Patriotism: From “Patris”, greek for homeland/fatherland -> acting in interest of the homeland. This word is locality bound
Nationalism: Acting in interest of the nation/ your people, thats why revolutions and independence fights are called nationalistic and not patriotic. It’s not locality bound.
Chauvinism: Degrading other or some nations as inferior compared to your nation
Nationalism does not necessarily encompass chauvinism. And it’s not its original definition despite many wanting it to be. This is an example of the cultural fight about words and the meaning of it happening, thus making it a taboo across society to furthen his own agenda (which the left won here)
As a person from a country where “nationalism” is not a curse word, I’d say they are both very similar concepts. But, if you have to draw a distinction, patriotism is about love towards the country, while nationalism is about the nation which may be a part of the country or go across multiple countries. Or the contents of a country and nation may be the same, but you might be nationalist that hates the country (as the government) and want it all reinstated from zero.
Edit: it appears that most people on this thread consider nationalism to be about a nation’s supposed superiority over others. I think the correct term for that is **chauvinism** but that has lately been associated with gender chauvinism and **jingoism** has taken it’s place in describing this hateful sense of superiority over other nations.
Fundamentally there isn’t really a difference.
Both can go too far.
Nationalism is the default word for looking your country and prioritizing it over others. It doesn’t have to be extreme.
Patriotism originated as an anti-monarchist movement in Britain. Exported to the us and it became your new favorite word.
Patriot: a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.
Nationalist: a person who strongly identifies with their own nation and vigorously supports its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.
Both are tribal in nature, both can be violent in what they see as the defense of their values, but one will go out of their way to be violent to others.
Very oversimplified answer but:
Patriotism: I love my country and where I come from.
Nationalism: My country, culture, religion, ideals, etc. are superior to any other; those who are different are inferior, to the point where extreme nationalism often leads to very dangerous and radical extremist ideals that ostracize a group of people, often minorities, whom are considered antiethical to the nationalist status quo.
In my view…Nationalism is about pride in symbols. Patriotism is about actions taken which benefit the nation or the community.
If you look at nationalist movements around the world, you’ll note they make a lot of use of flags and heroes, talk about their “glorious history”, etc. Nationalists usually contribute to their nation or community less, with more noise. Patriots are usually quieter and do what they do without (a lot of) the fanfare.
Quite often, nationalist people call themselves “patriots”, while calling another nation’s nationalists “nationalists”.
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