What is ethnic nationalism? How is ethnic nationalism different from other forms of nationalism? What does it mean to be part of an ethnic group? This article will answer these questions and more as we examine the different types of ethnic nationalism and its history.
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Jetzt kostenlos anmeldenWhat is ethnic nationalism? How is ethnic nationalism different from other forms of nationalism? What does it mean to be part of an ethnic group? This article will answer these questions and more as we examine the different types of ethnic nationalism and its history.
In the 18th Century, nationalism became a political tool. During the French Revolution, nationalism united people from different classes to overthrow the monarchy and establish the French Republic. Nationalism was also used throughout the world as a means to fight for ethnic independence against vast, multi-ethnic empires. We call this form of nationalism ethnic nationalism.
Ethnicity or ethnic group refers to membership in a group based on culture and geography. Members of ethnic groups usually identify with each other through common ancestry or genealogy.
Ethnic nationalism holds that nations are defined by common ancestry, language, and beliefs.
Ethnic nationalism is based on the idea that ethnic groups have the right to self-determination. Depending on how the right to self-determination is exercised, this can lead to a variety of different outcomes, from a sovereign state to the establishment of self-governing bodies within a society.
While ethnicity or ethnic group refers to belonging to a group based on culture and geography, nationality refers to a person’s membership in a country and describes their connection to the state politically. There are monoethnic countries where vast majority of the population belongs to a single ethnic group, and polyethnic countries where the population is made up of multiple ethnic groups. Examples of monoethnic countries include Japan, North Korea, and Morroco, while examples of polyethnic countries include the United States, Canada and Brazil.
Ethnic nations have a strong sense of collective identity based on a real or fictitious sense of shared ethnic identity. Less than 10% of nation-states today consider themselves ethnic nations. In ethnic nations, there are fears of miscegenation.
The term miscegenation is often used negatively, referring to the mixing of racially and ethnically different people; this often refers to the dilution of one’s race or ethnicity.
Ethnic nations are also fearful of ‘melting pot’ societies because they fear they will lose national and personal identity.
In the 19th Century, the Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in the world, and the official language of the empire was Turkish. While the Turks led the Ottoman Empire, the empire was made up of many different ethnic groups, including Greeks, Arabs, Slavs, and Kurds. In the late 19th Century, Greeks under the Ottoman Empire began to see themselves as having their own identity, distinct from that of the Ottoman Empire, and they began to advance the idea that Greeks deserved their own state outside the rule of the Ottoman Empire, as they were a separate nation. This was an example of Greek ethnic nationalism, as the Greeks believed they had a common identity, culture, and roots that were distinct from those of other peoples in the empire.
Greece was very multi-ethnic at the time, and in addition to Orthodox Christians, there were Muslims and Jews. However, within the ethnic nationalism that the Greeks espoused, there was the idea of establishing Greek independence with ‘pure’ forms of Greek identity. This meant that Orthodox Christianity would be the religion of Greece and Greek the national language. Greek ethnic nationalism even espoused the idea that Greeks had a specific appearance due to their common ancestry, and therefore those who looked Northern European or Turkish were not pure Greeks and were therefore often rejected. In 1830, Greece was successfully established as an independent state and liberated from the Ottoman Empire. This example also shows that ethnic nationalism is not all-encompassing: in this case, to be considered Greek, one had to possess specific physical characteristics, adopt the Greek language, and profess Orthodox Christianity.
What is the difference between civic and ethnic nationalism?
Ethnic nationalism is often contrasted with civic nationalism because it is exclusive and civic nationalism is inclusive.
Civic nationalism is a form of nationalism based on civic rights and citizenship. Civic nationalism rests upon shared values amongst individuals and is characterised by liberal ideas such as tolerance, individual rights, and public participation.
Civic nationalism requires loyalty to the nation. In a civic nation, citizens define themselves by their commitment to political institutions and principles. This often inspires patriotism, which refers to devotion to and vigorous support of one’s country. In a civic nation, one must identify with the constitution and political institutions instead of citizenship based on language, religion, or ethnicity.
For example, in the United States of America, you are considered an American or a citizen of America regardless of your ethnicity. Therefore, the US is considered a ‘melting pot’ because of the large number of Latino Americans, Arab Americans, African Americans, Italian Americans, etc. As long as one adheres to the American Constitution, values and political institutions, one is theoretically considered an American.
Ethnic nationalism, on the other hand, is exclusive. One cannot be a member of an ethnic nation unless one belongs to that ethnic group, regardless of whether one was born in that nation, speaks the same language, or follows the same religious practices. Ethnic nationalism creates a distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’, whereas in civic nationalism, anyone can be part of the ‘us’ group.
Nativism refers to a policy that seeks to promote the interests of a nation’s indigenous or 'native' population over those of immigrants.
Nativism is a concept often discussed in the context of ethnic nationalism and is almost exclusively an American concept due to its origins in 19th century US politics. Although nativism originated in the United States, aspects of nativism also exist in other regions, such as Europe. However, in Europe, these discussions are often described with terms such as xenophobia, racism, and ultranationalism, rather than using the term nativism. Nativism can be understood as xenophobic nationalism. Xenophobia refers to a dislike, hatred, or fear of foreigners.
Some ethnic groups are native to certain nations and regions.
For example, Native Americans are native to the United States of America. Therefore, it would be logical to assume that nativism in America is based on protecting native Americans from immigrants. However, this is not the case. In the American application of nativism, the term 'natives' refers to those descended from the Thirteen Colonies, or more loosely, white Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs). The Thirteen Colonies were British colonies in North America that fought for American independence in the American Revolution. The rise of nativism was an attempt to counteract the large influx of immigrants. A particular focus of nativists in America was the rejection of Irish Catholic immigration. This was because the nativists were Protestant and therefore saw Catholicism as a threat to native American culture.
Nativism has been very prominent in the history of the United States. Here we see some examples of how nativism has developed historically in the United States.
While the United States is not described as an ethnic nation but rather a civic one, we can see from the historical adoption of nativism that there appears to be an American ethnic identity. This American identity is often prioritised in the political sphere.
Civic nationalism is an inclusive form of nationalism based on civic rights and citizenship. Civic nationalism rests upon shared values amongst individuals and has been shaped by liberal ideas like that of tolerance, individual rights and public participation. Ethnic nationalism on the other hand is exclusive. One cannot be a member of ethnic nations if they do not belong to that ethnic group regardless of whether they were born in the nation, speak the same language or follow the same religious practices.
Ethnicity or ethnic group refers to belonging to a group based on culture and geography. Members of these groups usually identify with one another through a shared ancestry or genealogy. Nationality refers to a person’s membership in a country and describes their connection to the state politically. There are instances of overlap between ethnicity and nationality.
Ethnic nationalism holds that nations are defined by common ancestry, language, and beliefs. It relies on the idea that ethnic groups have the right to self-determination.
Greece in the 19th Century, which was very multi-ethnic at the time: in addition to Orthodox Christians, there were Muslims and Jews.
However, within the ethnic nationalism that the Greeks espoused, there was the idea of establishing Greek independence with ‘pure’ forms of Greek identity. This meant that Orthodox Christianity would be the religion of Greece and the Greek language. Greek ethnic nationalism even espoused the idea that Greeks had a specific appearance due to their common ancestry, and therefore those who looked Northern European or Turkish were not pure Greeks and were therefore under attack. In 1830, Greece was successfully established as an independent state and liberated from the Ottoman Empire.
Ethnic nationalism is based on the idea that ethnic groups have the right to self-determination. Depending on how the right to self-determination is exercised, this can lead to a variety of different outcomes, from a sovereign state to the establishment of self-governing bodies within a society.
What is ethnic nationalism?
Ethnic nationalism holds that nations are defined by common ancestry, language, and beliefs and that ethnic groups have the right to self-determination.
What percentage of nations view themselves as ethnic nations?
23.
What is an ethnic group?
Ethnicity or ethnic group refers to membership in a group based on culture and geography. Members of ethnic groups usually identify with each other through common ancestry or genealogy.
When did Greece gain independence from the Ottoman Empire?
In 1830.
What is civic nationalism?
Civic nationalism is a form of nationalism based on civic rights and citizenship. Civic nationalism rests upon shared values amongst individuals and is characterised by liberal ideas such as tolerance, individual rights, and public participation.
What does the term xenophobia mean?
Xenophobia refers to a dislike, hatred, or fear of foreigners.
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