A world of nation-states

Nation-states are independent countries. They have their own governments. Since the 1700s, they have been the driving force in the world. Today’s world, though, has become more globalized. Billions of people use the same social media networks. They listen to the same music and play the same video games. They even wear the same style jeans. Even so, almost everybody is still a citizen of a nation-state. National identities still motivate people. In fact, nationalism may be on the rise.

Sports are one area where nation states and nationalism are on display. The Olympics are a good example. Its events pit teams of different nation-states against each other. They compete for medals. They also promote national pride. Sports reflect the many people who value being part of a group.

At the same time, sports show the complexity of nation-states. Consider the FIFA World Cup football (soccer) tournament. It allows 195 independent nation-states to show their flags. However, 211 teams can participate. Some of these teams represent communities that are not recognized as independent countries. They include Kosovo. It is claimed by Serbia. Taiwan can take part even though it is claimed by China.

So what does it really mean to have a nation-state? And what role does nationalism play? These questions help us understand what is happening in the world today.

Transnationalism

The first half of the 20th century was torn by war. Millions suffered and died. Much of the violence was the result of nationalism. Nationalism is the sometimes-militant belief that one’s country or people is the best. After the Second World War (1939–1945), many people saw nationalism as destructive and dangerous. There was a growth in internationalism. This movement represented the idea that nation-states have to work together. They must cooperate to prevent war and deal with the world’s problems. The United Nations became a symbol of this ideal.

Such cooperation entered the business world, too. More and more, products made in one country were sold in another. The economies of nation-states became more and more linked. These global systems seemed to limit the power of nationalism.

Some experts even say we have entered a time of “transnationalism.” In other words, culture and business no longer recognize borders. As a result, the globalized economy has led to new ideas about identity. Technology is connecting distant people in new ways. They can share interests and ideas like never before. These changes have affected how people see themselves. For some, their national identity has become less important than their personal one. The movement of people between countries also contributes to transnationalism.

The resurgence of nationalism

Not everyone thinks nationalism is fading, though. Some scholars even say it is a good thing. Gustavo de las Casas is an expert in foreign relations. He thinks nationalism is useful. It can unite members of a nation-state. It can motivate them to work together toward a common goal.

Rwanda in Africa has used nationalism to try to rebuild itself. In 1994, violent attacks took place across the country. Thousands of people were murdered. The Hutu people mainly attacked the Tutsi people. Afterward, Rwanda’s new government developed a program: “everyone is Rwandan.” It banned people from talking about their ethnic identity. Leaders urged people to make peace and get along. The situation there is still tense, though. It demonstrates how hard it is for people to balance their different identities.

Nationalism based on race rather than state

Ethnic groups are another source of nationalism. This kind of nationalism is not based on the nation-state. Instead, it relates to race or ethnicity.¹ Like in Rwanda, it can be an excuse for violence. In the United States, the clearest example is white nationalism.

In August 2017, Charlottesville, Virginia, became a battlefield. White nationalists came there for a rally. Some of them carried Confederate flags. This flag was used by the Southern slave states in the U.S. Civil War (1861–1865). Today, it is often waved by white people who oppose racial equality. The marchers also carried tiki torches.² They looked like the torches used by the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK is a racist group. Its members often have carried torches while terrorizing African American communities. At one point, a white nationalist struck marchers with a car. An activist was killed.

Interestingly, white nationalism has supporters in many countries. It is transnational, in other words. Most white nationalists resent people they see as outsiders. Their main targets are immigrants and minority groups.

Citizens of no nation

Nationalism often rejects non-citizens. If they do not belong to the most powerful ethnic group? They may face greater discrimination. Their path to citizenship may be blocked.

By law, anyone born in the United States is automatically a citizen. This system is called birthright citizenship. The U.S. Constitution guarantees it. Some people now want to eliminate this law, though. In fact, most countries do not have it. Most require at least one parent to have citizenship for the newborn to be considered a citizen.

Citizenship is a big deal. It guarantees some basic rights. Non-citizens may not be allowed to work or go to school, for instance. They may be denied health care or the right to buy a house. In addition, only citizens can get passports. Passports allow people to travel to other countries.

In Europe, the Roma people are often denied citizenship.³ They face widespread racism and discrimination. Some have lost their papers when they fled from war. Others never were allowed to become citizens in the first place. Many Roma children have no home country.

In some places, groups within a country only have limited citizenship rights. This is the case of the Palestinian people living in Israel. Palestinian people who live in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have Israeli passports. However, their travel is controlled. Nor do they have the same rights as Israeli citizens. In 2018, Israel passed a new law. It declared the country the “nation-state for the Jewish people.” The Palestinian people are made to feel like outsiders. They are not allowed to have a state of their own.

Further discussion

So what does the future hold? Will we live in a transnational world where national identity becomes less important? Or is nationalism making a comeback? Big changes are in motion, whichever way it goes.

1 As you already know, “race” is not grounded in scientific evidence of shared background. Rather, it is a category that people largely invented. It is based on a few biological factors, especially skin color.
2 In fact, tiki torches come from Polynesia society. They demonstrate how much even white supremacists rely on global ideas and technologies!
3 “Roma” describes the ethnic group who were sometimes referred to by the racist pejorative “gypsies.”