Differences between Ethnic Nationalism and Civic Nationalism - Essay Example

What is the difference between ethnic nationalism and civic nationalism? Can the former exist without the latter? Definition. Nationalism is a patriotic feeling one feels with people of common background, ethnicities and cultures. It is also referred to as a devotion to the interests of one’s own country. Miscevic, Nenad (01 Jun 2010) described nationalism in two observable facts: first, it portrays the attitude of the people when they are asked about their national identity; and second, it is a description of the feeling of the people when they seek to achieve self-determination. With reference to national identity, it is often characterized as a matter of origin, ethnicity, cultural ties and the membership of the individual which could be voluntary or involuntary. In terms of self-determination, it is referred to “as having full statehood with complete authority on domestic and internal affairs” Miscevic, Nenad (01 Jun 2010 2. Theories. Whereupon, we come into the two theories of nationalism: the civic nationalism and the ethnic nationalism. What makes them different from each other, and could it be rightly expressed that the former can exist without the other? I believe that although the two kinds of nationalism are different from each other; civic nationalism emanates from ethnic nationalism because the former is a heritage that existed during the times of our forefathers; and that civic nationalism has gathered its principles from the experience of ethnic nationalism. Kuzio, Taras (January 2002, pp. 20-39) supports my assertion that civic nationalism could not exist without ethnic nationalism. He believes that the country’s ethnicity and civic universalism “is dependent on the evolution of its history from ethnic to civic state and nationhood and the depth of democratic consolidation” (Kuzio, Taras). He concluded in his study that evolution from ethnic to civic states does not depend on geography but rather on the positive influence of international institutions, domestic democratic consolidation and civic institution building”. The West, he said has a long history of ethnic states, and that this factor makes its evolution also similar to the states in the East. Drawn from the explanations of Nikolas 2001, ethnic nationalism has ideological bonds from the native history and its people. It is differentiated from civic nationalism because its nationhood is described by its customs and traditions, religion and language (Hill, Richard C. 2003). Accordingly, the ethnic nationalists believe that “it is not the state that creates the nation but the nation that creates the state”. What make them stay together are the “pre-existing” ethnic characteristics and not the shared political rights. Conditions that described ethnic nationalism is illustrated as Germany’s reaction to Napoleon’s invasion in 1806, and its reaction “against the French ideal of a nation state”(Hill, Richard C, 2003). This kind of ethnic idealism was held by the people who were under imperial domination in Europe during the 19th century. For example, it appealed to Poles & Baltic peoples under the Russian Empire; Serbs under Turkish rule during the Ottoman Empire and the Croats under the Habsburgs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Hill, Richard C. 2003.) In the article “Race v. ethnicity” ethnicity speaks about nationality, culture, ancestry, language and beliefs. Ethnicities within the race happen when there are many countries evolved, e.g. Caucasians race that include Irish, Welsh, German, Slovaks, etc. The U. S. according to this article had a troubled history when there was a wave of Irish and Italian immigrants who were supposed to be Caucasians. But these Caucasians had different ethnicities different from the Anglo Saxons who were early immigrants so the US was required to enforce ethnic racial discriminations. Bulliet, Richard, 2004 defines nationalism as somewhat related to ethnic nationalism because he said that it is a feeling of “political unity and patriotic sympathy” wherein the people uses its own language or culture of the land that they call as its own. Although Bulliet feels that ethnic nationalism is difficult to recognize in the Middle East prior to the 19th century, he sees that people at that time had established affinity with people of same religions. The ruler tolerated the religious plurality as a norm, however, it did not impose that people follow ruler’s religion, but it seemed that the ruler’s co-religionists enjoyed special privilege. Language became the bond between people, but discriminated others who do not speak the same. People belonging to this ethnicity take pride of its identity with places of origin and territories, and often refer to folk sayings, humor and local traditions. Nationalism is reported to be successful in the 19th century where feelings and identity were recognized (“Nationalism”). This attitude was intense with the middle class of society wherein exemplification means accepting loyalty to the French civil state was considered a citizen. As differentiated, the US adopted the civic state of inclusiveness while the Germans took the ethnic way. They spoke only German language, had a German name and took nationalist ideals, the ethnic way, more seriously. 3. Differences. The differences of the two theories come in the way they contrast each other in different aspects (Hill, Richard C. 2003). The civic nationalists (CN) put emphasis on law while ethnic nationalists (EN) consider common roots such as blood relations when it comes to citizenship. To the CN, citizenship is a matter of choice while EN is thru inheritance, like being born into a citizenship. The CN has rational attachment to the Supreme Court because of laws, while EN has emotional attachment to the flag. CN establishes unity by consent normally done in town halls, while EN arrives at unity by acknowledgement and is done by the tribe. In CN there is democratic pluralism, while in EN the ethnic majority rules. CN fosters liberty while EN ascribes fraternity. CN also believes that individuals create nations but EN thinks otherwise; they argue that nations create individuals and have beliefs based on myths. The legal framework of the CN is based upon the Human Rights, civil rights and constitution of the United States (US Constitution). It is also based on international treaties that recognize human rights such as those existing in the United Nations (“The United Nations Human Rights Treaties”). Nikolas (2001) in her study about nationalism thinks that there are two interacting factors that maintain their existence in the society that is determined by ideology and by subjectivity of “modern nationalism”. Her article suggested that the only difference comes when which people begin to see themselves as a society, and the other conceives nationhood. To Nikolas, the idea of a civic nationalism is one that resides in a civic society. Here, people live in a common community which is governed by the standards and rule of law and sovereignty resides in the individual. The civic society has territorial demarcations that belongs to the people and possess a “single political will”. Civic society belongs to a circle that must belong to a nation and must also belong to a state. In CN, people can choose the nation where one wants to live and enjoy the legality of equal rights with other nations. People in CN have the freedom of choice for higher opportunities thru education and the right for political choice. In an article entitled “Ethnicity vs. race”, ethnicity has been described as cultural factors such as nationality, culture, ancestry and beliefs. It is theorized here that if people believe that they belong to a certain genealogy, they would want to be associated with that group and become members. Sometimes belonging to a group means sharing the same language, same history or religion. The 19th century saw development of political ideologies wherein nations were created based on presumed ethnic origins. Examples are Sweden, Italy and Germany. Although belonging to same ethnic groups, conflicts also arise from among the group, but nevertheless get along peacefully with each other. Richardson & Shingee Shen (24 March 1966) said some of the causes of ethnic conflicts are “historical legacies of mistrust; victim mentality, leadership roles and relative deprivation.” The power of ethnic nationalism was not so intense in the United States as Muller, G. (08 March, 2008) said that because by experience, people with different ethnic origins lived peacefully with Americans. Muller insinuated that ethnic identities are eased after living in the US for quite some by through cultural assimilation and inter-marriage. To this, he said that immigrants often come to the country ready to embrace the culture of the US or to any other country they go. Experience also showed the sad experience of ethnic nationalism during the war in 1914 and then in 1939, so much so that Europeans saw its danger and decided to abandon it. Long before the reorganization of Europe, Halsal, Paul (Aug. 1997) lifted from the writings of Marzinni, Guiseppi in 1880 that Europe has to be remade, he asserted then that reorganization of Europe should be effected wherein people are “free to interrogate themselves; to express their vocation, and to assure its accomplishment by an alliance capable of substituting itself for the absolutist league which now reigns supreme” . Marzinni in 1852 was the founder of Italy and saw its transition into a democratic Italian state that led to its development. 4. Conflicts There are studies that showed conflicts arising from ethnic nationalism. Danforth, Loring (1997) said Macedonians and Greeks engaged in heated debate concerning identity. Macedonia is campaigning for international recognition being a newly independent Republic. The conclusion of the conflict was the construction of identity at an individual level of immigrants from northern Greece who have settled in Australia where multiculturalism is allowed. Under this condition, members of the same families and people from the same families who chose to live in the northern suburbs of Melbourne have different national identities. Gilley, Bruce (2004, pp. 1155-1166) in his study about ethnic conflicts stated that he has reasons to report an overall decline of ethnic conflicts as proven by indicators in state failures and refugees and that cooperation has become the established norms. He cited that normal politics curtailed predicted ethnic upheavals in several countries. For instance, he said 40% Africans chose to be identified themselves by class or by occupation rather than by ethnicity (30%). Likewise, he mentioned the political crises in Zimbabwe and Kenya did not lead to a rise in ethnic tensions. In Somalia, as reported in the study, people are more concerned with “armed thugs” and hyenas than ethnic disputes. In Asia, the long time ethnic conflict between China and Malaysia is in the process of decline. In India, Gilley saw a decline of ethnic conflict because people become educated and better off. Examples such as those cited above give credence to the characterization of ethnic nationalism by Nikolas are now agreeing with the political developments of civilizations. They feel that they need to be a part of the civilization to attain progress, to survive, modernize and become successful. As part of modernity, and become part of the modern world, people of ethnic regions believe they must united as groups to be politically recognized as a nation-state as in the State of Macedonia. In the absence of a rightful mechanism to recognize them, people turn to assert their own sovereignty using identification of their own unique characteristics that differentiated them from foreigners. Conditions of co-existence. The co-existence and relationship between the two theories is difficult. Calhoun, Craig (1993 pp. 211-233) admits in his study that nationalism and ethnicity is not vanishing but rather it becomes part of an “obsolete traditional order”. His idea is that both are part of modern categories of identification most often advocated by the elites and members of the political and social struggles. He believes that the categorical identities are parts of everyday life that defines the existing homogeneity and differences of identities. Thus, he construed that identities are but a continuation of ethnicity. Both nationalism and ethnicity are silently present in the modern social and cultural change such as state-building, individualism and in the integration of large-scale indirect relationships and are often invoked in similar ways. Conclusion. The difference between ethnic nationalism and civic nationalism is only a thin line of identification. Ethnic nationalism is part of historical process which is part of cultural beliefs that differentiates the East and the West. The influence of ethnic nationalism was widely felt in European countries before the 19th century, after which, its popularity waned and abandoned. However, the principles that existed before continued to be transmitted in the modern civilization not as an active participation but transient modifications in culture. Participants of ethnic nationalism embrace the civic nationalism of the country that they have immigrated. Culture assimilations come from inter-marriage and education that allow them to become a member of the society. There also countries that allow multi-cultures that give them separate entities and let them live in peace. So the difference lies in how people feel in their identification. For instance ethnic nationalists attached so much sentimentality to its origin, history, religion and culture. Their beliefs runs counter with the civic nationalities because it is based on law and order provided by the state or government. Finally, both cannot exist without the other because it has developed an intermingled ideas and practices that came from national heritage. These ideas and practices have been weaved into policies by the government and the United Nations that guarantee human rights for everyone and as unified practice. But civic nationalism is more reasonable source of belonging because it does not create divisions, and does not discriminate on class, gender and resources. Civic nationalism presents the structure for law, political participation, and legislative possibilities of reconciliation.   Reference list Bulliet, Richard. (20040. Nationalism 2004. Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Accessed 23 October 2011, http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/nationalism.aspx#5-1O88:nationalism-full Craig, Calhoun. Nationalism and Ethnicity. Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 19, (1993) pp. 211-239. Danfort, Loring M. 1997. Ethnic nationalism in a transnational world The Macedonian Conflict. Accessed 24 October 2011 http://press.princeton.edu/titles/5750.html “Ethnicity v. race”. Diffen.com. Accessed 24 October 2011 http://www.diffen.com/difference/Ethnicity_vs_Race Gilley, Bruce. Against the concept of ethnic conflict. Feature Review. Third World Quarterly. Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 1155-1166, 2004. Accessed 23 October 2011, http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/pnorris/Acrobat/stm103%20articles/Gilley_Concept_ethnic_conflict.pdf. Kuzio, Taras. The myth of the civic state: a critical survey of Hans Kohn’s framework for understanding nationalism. Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 25, No. 1 January 2002 pp. 20-39. Halsal, Paul. (August 1977) Modern History Sourcebook: Giuseppe Mazzini: On Nationality, 1852 Accessed 23 October 2011, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1852mazzini.asp Hill, Richard C. “Civic nationalism and ethnic nationalism”. Accessed 24 October 2010, https://www.msu.edu/user/hillrr/161lec16.htm Miscevic, Nenad (01 Jun 2010) Nationalism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Accessed 24 October 2011, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nationalism/http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nationalism/ Muller, Jerry J. (March 2008). The enduring power of ethnic nationalism. Foreign Affairs. Us and Them. Accessed 23 October2011, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/63217/jerry-z-muller/us-and-them “Nationalism” (22 September 1997. Fordham University. Accessed 23 October 2011, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook17.asp Nikolas, Margarita M. (2000). The exercise of nationalism: Exploring its civic and ethnic components. Introduction. Accessed 23 October, 2011, http://www.nationalismproject.org/articles/nikolas/intro.htm Nikolas, Margarita M. (2000). Ethnic Nationalism and Civic Nationalism. Chapter 1 http://www.nationalismproject.org/articles/nikolas/ch1.htm Richardson & Shingree Shen (24 March 1966). Ethnic conflict and development. Accessed 23 October 2011 http://www1.american.edu/jrich/Richardson.ethnic.confl.html. The United Constitution, We the People. Accessed 23 October 2011, http://constitutionus.com/ “The United Nations Human Rights Treaties”. Accessed 23 October 2011, http://www.bayefsky.com/ Read More