Nationalism

The ideal pattern of modern state is the nation state, seeking to express itself through sovereign political authority. To every conscious human being of our age, weather free of struggling for freedom, nationalism is the most important possession where nothing else is good enough to compensate and the highest ideal, which no other consideration is great enough to substitute. On the other hand, it is most fanatical dogma, which no longer is strong enough to bear through. Since the dawn of civilization, it has been the motive force in world politics and has dictated the course of the world history. It has thus secured as well as destroyed human freedom. Under its mighty impact, the vas Roman Empire crushed, resulting in the freedom of component countries. Again, the British Empire, born of British nationalism kept half the world under subjection for about two centuries. The Second World War would have remained ever fought if the expanding German Nationalism would not have clashed with the national interest of the British in Europe

                                  On account of its varied nature, the idea of nationalism is not very easy to define and has different connotations as regard its practical manifestation. It is usually said to be sentiment of indivisible oneness existing among a group of people. It is thought to be born of some powerful ties such as common race, common religion, common history, common language, common culture, common homeland and so on. But in practice this sentiment is not traceable to any determinate cause, which makes off those who share in it from the rest of people.

Nationalism can be sentiment, or a policy, or a myth, or a dogma, or a doctrine. It is a sentiment when it is the love of common soil, race, language or culture. It is a policy when it is a desire for independence, security or prestige.  It is a myth when it is a mythical devotion to a vague social whole. It is a dogma when it is a belief that the nation is an end in itself and that the individual lives exclusively for the nation. It is a doctrine when a nation considers itself dominant among other nations or aggressively strives to be supreme among them. Before propounding the idea any further, it is quite expedient to have a look at the historical origin of nationalism and to evaluate how powerful element it has been in the world politics.

The idea of nationalism was firstly advocated by the European people in the struggle of their existence because of fierce conflagration between the English on one side and the Scotch and the French on other side. The spirit of nationalism was greatly infused amongst the European nations.

The French revolution and the Napoleonic domination ushered and era of vigorous revival of the spirit of nationalism in Europe. The French revolution had vigorously initiated the doctrine of the rights of man. But as the rights of man primarily induced the right to chose their own governs, it was natural corollary that men had a right to be governed by their mutual sympathies and affinities in the organization of the state and once position in granted, the nationalist doctrine is established.

During the 19^th century, the Europe was swayed by the forces of nationalism and a sharp reaction against the settlement of Vienna opened a new chapter in the history of nationalism. During the closing years of the same century. Both these sentiments developed a tidal Nationalist movement which ultimately resulted in the attainment of freedom by all subject countries except a few in Africa.  if freedom is recognized as the birth rate of everyman nationalism Embodying National freedom must also be admitted as the birth right of every Nation. No nation, however, civilized can have any moral right to subjugate another Nations however backward the letter maybe, because every Nation has equal right to freedom. Is a democracy thing on the ethical principles of equality between men and men it cannot be built upon the immoral basis of inequality between Nation and Nation. Further, every people have its distinctive culture and Civilization, languages, literature and above all its economic interest in political ideas. Development is possible in the absence of national autonomy. If this right of self development is denied, the subject people are not only debased from developing ther group personality, but also rendered mankind. Besides peaceful life on earth is frequently threatened both by loss on account of all these devolves on the world civilization. Nationalism is, therefore, a key to peace and prosperity of the world at large which no nation has right to foil.

Every theory or doctrine has its critic and defenders and so is the case with nationalism. On the brighter side of picture, it has revived the Greeks ideal of autonomy i.e the right of all people to self-determination and has brought a sharp reaction against the foreign domination. The minorities emancipated themselves from the subjection of the majorities on the basis of autonomy of distinct gropus. It is a unifying and liberating forces and enables the individual with the deep sense of genuine patriotism.

The darker side of the idea of nationalism is that it breeds contempt, and hostility. It is a kind of modern fanaticism when being carried to an extreme. The sing the of ‘’Germany over all nations’’ the English assert that ‘’ Britain shall rule the world’’ ; the American boast through their egotistical pronouncement that they are the only vanguard of the whole humanity. It narrows the political outlook of a nation. Development on national lines tends to impart a parochial coloring to national politics. It creates a deep sense of primitive seclusion. Morbid nationalism has chiefly been responsible for international wrangling and rivalries and has been consequently suffocated the channels of human progress. The creation of Pakistan Owens a great deal to the force of nationalism.