Nationalism

                                    Nationalism

Meaning of Nationalism

Nationalism teaches us to love our motherland. The nationalists love their motherland, rivers, mountains, flowers, animals and birds very much and they say that motherland is better than paradise.Hans Kohn writes, "Nationalism is an idea, an idea-force which fills man's brain and heart with new thoughts and sentiments and drives him to translate his consciousness into deeds of organised action". According to Dr. Garner, "It is one of the characteristics features of modern nationalism that most peoples who constitute a nationality aspire either to be independent and to be under a state organisation of their own choice and creation or at least to be according a large political autonomy where they are united with another nationality or nationalities in the same state".

Right of Self-Determination

Meaning of the right of self-determination-The right means that each nationality should have in separate state. John Stuart Mill in his book, "Representative Government",has laid a special emphasis on the theory. Late President Woodrow Wilson of the U.S.A.also said,"self-determination is not a mere phrase,it is an imperative principle of action, which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril".
Implementation of the right of self-determination-According to this principle the province of Alsace Lorraine was given to France. Poland was considered as a free state and its boundaries were merged with ethnic boundary. North Sheleswig was returned to Denmark. The Czechs and Slovaks got freedom from the slavery of Austria and a new state named Czechoslovakia was formed by merging both of them.
Violation of this right- In spite of this,the principle was not fully implemented in Paris Peace Conference,1920. Many Germans were left under the regimes of Poland.Czechoslovakia and Italy and certain people of Hungary were pulled out of the country and were handed over to other states. Many Lithunian and Rudinian nationals were shifted to Poland and Czechoslovakia.
Practical difficulties in adopting this principle- If this principle is adopted,there will be practical difficulties. According to this principle, Scotland and Wales shall have to be separated from England.
Moreover,many nationalists will have to be given the right of separation from the Soviet Union and China which will not be tolerated by the governments of these countries. The Pakhtoons shall be separated from  Pakistan, and there will be disorder and anarchy in India. The rebel Naga leaders and Sikh terrorists, had demanded separates states for the Nagas and the Sikh respectively. These demands were not accepted by the government of India. Pakistan is harping on the theme of self-determination for Kashmiris. If on the basis of this right, a plebiscite is held in Kashmir, it will give rise to many complications. According to this principle,many states f Europe will be cut into piece because, they are inhabited by people belong to several nationalities. Therefore President Smarik in his tract ,"Small Nations in the European Crisis" wrote that "there are 68 small nations in Europe and if this principle is adopted, Europe will have to be divided into 68 instead of 28 state,which will a practical difficulty. For this reason,  in Lausanne Peace Conference, 1923 Lord Curzon said,that the principle of self-determination is a double-edged sword and it can only be accepted with some reservations.
In 1918 and 1919, plebiscite took place in A land Island (Europe) and according to that the people decided, almost unanimously, to be separated from Finland and to join Sweden.There was a great controversy over it.

Merits of Nationalism

1-Helpful in liberating the country from foreign yoke- Nationalism infused the spirit of patriotism in the minds of the people. If a country is under the yoke of a foreign rule as was the case in India before 1947, the people can be united for attaining freedom through nationalism. In the nineteenth century, in Greece,Italy,Bulgaria,Serbia and Poland and in the twentieth century in many countries of Africa,Asia and South America many freedom movements were started.

2-It leads to social unit- Through nationalism the feelings of the high and low cateism are banished from the minds of the people, and social unity is achieved.

3- It leads to the spirit of heroism and self-sacrifice-Nationalism creates the feeling of heroism and self-sacrifice. Every nation has to make several sacrifices for the attainment and protection of its freedom.

4-It leads to economic prosperity-The feeling of nationalism unites the people and they work for the economic prosperity of the country. They bear the burden of extra taxes in order to implement plans in the national interest.

5-Nationalism enables the country face the economic and political crisis effictively-Every nation faces an economic or political crisis once or twice in the career and the world history is a clear proof of it.

Demerits of Aggressive Nationalism

1-Aggressive nationalism leads to racism-Aggressive nationalism leads to racism. Hitler encouraged racism in the name of nationalism and said that Aryan race was the best race and it had been made to rule all over the world.

2-It encourages Colonialism and Imperialism-In the name of nationalism many European races discovered many new markets for their goods in the name of racism and established colonies.
3-It is likely to endanger world peace-When nationalism takes the extreme form in any country, that country invades other weaker countries,which becomes the basis for the world war.For example-Hitler invaded Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and France and Russia.

3-It is hindrance in the way of World Federation and international co-operation-Militant or aggressive nationalism is a great hindrance in the way of international co-operation. Many modern intellectuals are of the view that in order to establish world peace,it is essential that every state should give up a part of its sovereignty and give it to the world-federation. But militant nationalism proves a hindrance in its way.