Patriotism
The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with Western culture and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (July 2020) |
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Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and a sense of attachment to a country or state. This attachment can be a combination of different feelings for things such as the language of one's homeland, and its ethnic, cultural, political, or historical aspects. It may encompass a set of concepts closely related to nationalism, mostly civic nationalism and sometimes cultural nationalism.[1][page needed][2]
Terminology and usage
An excess of patriotism is called chauvinism; another related term is jingoism.
The English word "patriot" derived from "compatriot", in the 1590s, from Middle French patriote in the 15th century. The French word's compatriote and patriote originated directly from Late Latin patriota "fellow-countryman" in the 6th century. From Greek patriotes "fellow countryman", from patrios "of one's fathers", patris "fatherland". The term patriot was "applied to barbarians who were perceived to be either uncivilized or primitive and who had only a common Patris or fatherland." The original European meaning of patriots applied to anyone who was a fellow countryman regardless of the socio-economic status.[3]
History
The notions of
Enlightenment thinkers also criticized what they saw as the excess of patriotism. In 1774,
Cultural aspects
Many patriotic people take pride in sharing a distinct, common culture, believing it to be central to their national identity and unity. Many are devoted to the preservation of their traditional culture and encourage cultural assimilation by people from other cultures. However, some of the more civic forms of patriotism tend to de-emphasize ethnic culture in favor of a shared political culture.[7]
Philosophical issues
Patriotism may be strengthened by adherence to a national religion (a civil religion or even a theocracy). This is the opposite of the separation of church and state demanded by the Enlightenment thinkers who saw patriotism and faith as similar and opposed forces. Michael Billig and Jean Bethke Elshtain both argued that the difference between patriotism and faith is difficult to discern and relies largely on the attitude of the one doing the labeling.[8]
George Orwell, in his influential essay Notes on Nationalism distinguished patriotism from the related concept of nationalism:
By 'patriotism' I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force upon other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.[10]
Opposition
Voltaire stated that "It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind."[11] Arthur Schopenhauer wrote that "The cheapest sort of pride is national pride; for if a man is proud of his own nation, it argues that he has no qualities of his own of which a person can be proud."[12]
Against primordial arguments in favour of national patriotism, Eric Hobsbawm wrote that such a concept was - for most of human history - "so remote from the real experience of most human beings".[17]
Anarchists oppose patriotism.[18] This was exemplified by Emma Goldman, who stated:
Indeed, conceit, arrogance, and egotism are the essentials of patriotism. Let me illustrate. Patriotism assumes that our globe is divided into little spots, each one surrounded by an iron gate. Those who have had the fortune of being born on some particular spot, consider themselves better, nobler, grander, and more intelligent than the living beings inhabiting any other spot. It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living in that chosen spot to fight, kill, and die in an attempt to impose his superiority upon all the others.[19]
Region-specific issues
In the
Surveys
Several surveys have tried to measure patriotism, such as the
Since 1981[update], the World Values Survey polls for national values and beliefs. The survey includes the question "Are you proud to be [insert nationality]?"; the answers to which range from 1 (not proud) to 4 (very proud). They then use the average answer given to create comparisons between not only nations but also high and low income citizens.[23]
In 2022, U.S. adults who said they were "extremely proud" to be an American hit an all-time low, according to a Gallup poll.[24]
See also
- Collective narcissism – Psychological tendency to exaggerate the positive image of one's social group
- Cultural identity – Identity or feeling of belonging to a group
- Patriot movement – American conservative political movement
References
- ^ ISBN 9780810865488. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
- ^
- Miscevic, Nenad (2020-09-02). "Nationalism". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
- Primoratz, Igor (2020-12-16). "Patriotism". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
- ISSN 0191-6599.
- ^ "Patriotism – 401 Words". Studymode. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Boswell, James (1791), The Life of Samuel Johnson, New York: The Modern Library, p. 525
- ISBN 978-0-521-00959-1
- JSTOR 2707552.
- "Deutsch-Sein – Ein neuer Stolz auf die Nation im Einklang mit dem Herzen" (PDF). Identity Foundation (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- "Stolz Deutscher zu sein". Statista (in German). Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- Greenwood, Shannon (2021-05-05). "5. National pride and shame". Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
Further reading
- Bar-Tal, Daniel; Staub, Ervin (1999). Patriotism in the Lives of Individuals and Nations. Wadsworth Publishing Company. ISBN 0-8304-1410-X.
- Blatberg, Charles (2000). From Pluralist to Patriotic Politics: Putting Practice First. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-829688-6.
- Calhoun, Craig (2004). "Is it Time to Be Postnational?". In May, Stephen; Modood, Tariq; Squires, Judith (eds.). Ethnicity, Nationalism, and Minority Rights. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 231–56. ISBN 9780511489235.
- Cohen, Joshua; ISBN 0-8070-4313-3.
- Gomberg, Paul (2002). "Patriotism is Like Racism". In ISBN 1-57392-955-7.
- Habermas, Jürgen (1996). "Appendix II: Citizenship and National Identity". Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy. Translated by Rehg, William. MIT Press.
- Huizinga, Johan (1959). "Patriotism and Nationalism in European History". Men and Ideas. History, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance. Translated by Holmes, James S.; van Marle, Hans. New York: Meridian Books.
- MacIntyre, Alasdair (1995). "Is Patriotism a Virtue?". In Beiner, R. (ed.). Theorizing Citizenship. State University of New York Press. pp. 209–28.
- Orwell, George (1953). "Notes on Nationalism". England Your England and Other Essays. Secker and Warburg.
- Primoratz, Igor, ed. (2002). Patriotism. Humanities Press International. ISBN 1-57392-955-7.
- Viroli, Maurizio (1997). For Love of Country: An Essay on Patriotism and Nationalism. Oxford University Press on Demand. ISBN 0-19-829358-5.
- Witherspoon, John (May 17, 1776). "The Dominion of Providence Over The Passions of Man". Princeton.
- Kornelia Kończal and A. Dirk Moses (ed.), "Patriotic History" and the (Re)Nationalization of Memory, in: Journal of Genocide Research, 24 (2), 2022.