The Theory of Nationalism

The Theory of Nationalism
From The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Janet Espina-Clement
Geoffrey Rhoel C. Cruz
(2019)
Nationalism is a set of systems – political, social, and economic – characterized by the

promotion of interests of one nation anchored on the aim to achieve and maintain self-governance or
total sovereignty. It holds that a particular nation should govern itself and should be free from external
interference. Another important facet of nationalism is that it is oriented towards developing and
maintaining a national identity based on shared characteristics such as culture, language, race, and
religion. It seeks to preserve and reshape a nation’s culture. The concept of nationalism is essentially
modern. While people have historically been attached to their families, community, and native land, the
concept of nationalism only gained recognition in the late 18th century. The conceptualization of
nationalism in a distinctively modern sense was tied to the political awakening of the lower classes.
Nationalist movements have been invariably populist in outlook and sought to induct lower classes into
political life. The five basic elements of nationalism are culture, history, language, religion, and
territory.
Nationalism is best understood by first looking into the term nation. Benedict Anderson, a
prominent historian and political scientist who explored the origins of nationalism, defined the nation as
a fabrication, a bond between people who did not actually exist prior to its own recognition. For him,
the nation “is an imagined community – and imagined as both inherently limited and sovereign” (2006).
Anderson argues that the nation is imagined as a community because regardless of the actual
inequalities that prevail, the nation is always conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship. It is imagined
because it exists in the figment of the people’s collective imagination. According to Anderson, nation-
ness is a cultural artifact that is felt as having existed since time immemorial but is objectively modern as
it first emerged toward the end of the 18th century.
Following this conceptualization by Anderson, the Philippine nation is an imagined community

because one who identifies himself or herself as a Filipino will never meet all the other Filipinos around
the world, yet he or she is convinced that they exist and he or she is related to them. Anderson also
presents the concept of homogenous empty time, borrowed from the ideas of Walter Benjamin, which
replaced the idea of simultaneity-along-time which referred to the medieval conception of time as
situating events in the past, present, and future simultaneously. Homogenous empty time suggests that
a nation can be imagined as a unit, moving through time.
Patriotism versus Nationalism

https://www.dictionary.com/e/patriotism-vs-nationalism/
What is patriotism?
The word patriotism is a noun that means “devoted love, support, and defense of one’s country;
national loyalty.”
The term often brings to mind people directly involved with the defense of a nation, namely military
service members as well as state and local government representatives. For example: The soldiers
showed exemplary patriotism defending their country from attack.
Patriotism, however, can take many other forms outside serving in the military and public
office. Diplomats, teachers, first responders, and so many more all exemplify patriotism in the many
forms of good they do in service of their communities.
There are millions of government employees, as well as millions who volunteer their time in the interest
of their country. Individual acts of pride, such as displaying a Philippine flag at one’s home, are also
examples of patriotism.
What is nationalism?
In most contexts today, nationalism is “the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one’s own
nation viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations.” In
short, nationalism is a kind of excessive, aggressive patriotism.
How to use patriotism vs. nationalism?
When using these words, it’s important to keep context, and connotation, in mind:
Patriotism generally has a positive connotation. It’s used for various positive sentiments, attitudes, and
actions involving loving one’s country and serving the great good of all its people.
Nationalism generally has a negative connotation. It’s used for political ideologies and movements that
a more extreme and exclusionary love of one’s country—at the expense of foreigners, immigrants, and
even people in a country who aren’t believed to belong in some way, often racial and religious grounds.
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Feelings of patriotism are based on the positive values the country embraces—like freedom,
justice, and equality. The patriot believes that both the system of government and the people of their
country are inherently good and work together for a better quality of life.
In contrast, feelings of nationalism are based on a belief that one’s country is superior to all others.
It also carries a connotation of distrust or disapproval of other countries, leading to the assumption that
other countries are rivals.

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The Theory of Nationalism

From The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Nationalism is a set of systems – political, social, and economic – characterized by the

Following this conceptualization by Anderson, the Philippine nation is an imagined community

Patriotism versus Nationalism

How to use patriotism vs. nationalism?

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