Nationalism: Historical Roots and Contemporary Effects

Nationalism remains a powerful political force, even in democratic countries with long traditions of commitment to liberalism and republicanism, including the United States. This course examines the critical aspects of the history and present state and functioning of nationalism worldwide. The course is structured around three sets of questions. First, we examine nationalism as a macro-historical phenomenon. We ask, is nationalism ancient or a recent phenomenon? How has the nation-state become the dominant form of political organization globally? What is the relationship between nationalism and fighting wars? What is the current state of nationalism in the world? How has globalization affected nationalism? Then, we shift our focus to institutions and social divisions within nations and countries. How are citizenship and civil rights related to nationalism? What relationship does nationalism have with other systems of social division and ideology (particularly gender, ethnicity/race, and religion)? Lastly, we zoom in on individuals' beliefs, emotions, and attitudes. We ask, what is national identity? How do national beliefs vary within nations? How do national beliefs impact people's political attitudes and the way people respond to significant events such as elections, natural disasters, or wars? Why are some people ready to put their lives or the lives of others at risk in the name of the nation? How are the recent rise of radical-right populist leaders and increased political polarization in many countries related to individual-level national beliefs? Learning in this course is through a combination of three activities: instructed reading, class discussions, and hands-on investigation of cases of the students' choice.