Nationalism

Explanation

Nationalism asserts that national identity — defined by shared language, culture, ethnicity, history, or territory — should form the basis of political organization. At its most basic it holds that nations have the right to self-determination. Civic nationalism defines nationhood by shared political values and citizenship, not ethnicity. Ethnic nationalism defines it by common ancestry and culture. Nationalist movements have driven both positive developments (independence from colonial rule, unification of fragmented states) and catastrophic ones (ethnic cleansing, genocides, two world wars). Contemporary nationalist movements across Europe and the Americas typically combine cultural protectionism with anti-immigration and anti-globalization positions.