Nationalism (IM 666)

Nationalism and patriotism exist nowhere other than in our imagination. Yet as history unfolded, this imagined reality became one of the most powerful forces in human life. In many ways, human beings became dominant not only because of physical strength or intelligence, but because of our unique ability to create and believe in shared fictions even though we were less strong and had less cranial capacity than Neanderthal (1650cc vs 1400cc). These shared beliefs made large-scale cooperation possible and gave rise to nations, cultures, and collective identities.

When it comes to nationalism, it is important to recognize that it has both a bright side and a dark side. On one hand, nationalism can be understood as a triumph over division at a smaller scale. It allows millions of strangers to feel connected through a shared story, shared symbols, and a shared sense of belonging. It makes cooperation possible among people who will never know each other personally. Without such imagined bonds, it is difficult to imagine modern societies functioning at all.

I am from Nepal, a small country with about 30 millions of people, and I do not know most of them. Yet nationalism makes it possible for me to care about people on the other side of the country, to feel connected to them, and to believe that we are part of something larger than ourselves. In that sense, nationalism has been one of the great forces behind social cooperation and human organization.

But nationalism becomes dangerous when it hardens into extremity. When it turns into ultra-nationalism, it can easily become xenophobia, fascism, war, and even genocide. History has shown that clearly. So nationalism should not be seen as entirely good or entirely bad. It is a powerful imagined reality—one that can unite people toward cooperation, or divide them toward destruction, depending on how it is carried.

The truth is that nationalism is one of the greatest examples of the human power to imagine collectively. It has helped build nations and organize societies, but it must always be held with caution. At its best, it creates belonging and cooperation. At its worst, it becomes a weapon.