Flags waving at Fourth of July parades. Singing along to the national anthem as U.S. Olympians stand on a podium with gold encircling their necks. Promoting stereotypes about a religious group and using those as a rationale to disengage. Supporting U.S. involvement in armed conflicts in areas of the world because of the racial identity of the majority of a country’s people.
When it comes to nationalism, there’s a clear line between patriotism and xenophobia. Nationalism fosters a sense of “us” by prioritizing national sovereignty and promoting a shared identity. It has the potential to be a driving force for unity and independence.
In an article from the Foundation for Economic Education, it was found that one of the first manifestations of modern nationalism occurred during the French Revolution, which championed the idea that authority of government should be sustained by the populace in an ultimately positive way. However, the unification that nationalism now encourages is not purely positive. When nationalism is exacerbated, the ramifications are harmful.
An example of the negative ramifications in such a casual way is visible in the classic film, “Rocky IV,” released in 1985. The film featured a central plot and themes surrounding the Cold War. The film was reexamined in a 1994 study, referenced in the New York Times article “National Identity is Made Up.” The study found that Americans who had never seen the film, after watching footage of Rocky beating the Russian opponent, experienced a self-esteem boost.
However, when they saw edited footage where Rocky lost to his Russian opponent, they experienced their self-esteem drop and became more likely to have negative opinions on Russians. This example demonstrates the drastic ways nationalism alters everyday experiences. When consuming a piece of media, it is natural to have some sort of opinion on a conflict. However, allowing opinions to define identity can be harmful and create stereotypes.
Those stereotypes and labeling can lead to xenophobia, which can create unique problems. Take, for example, the disconnect that exists in the rhetoric around COVID-19. Tensions between China and President Donald Trump led to Trump and other Republicans labeling COVID-19 as the “Wuhan virus,” “Chinese virus” and the “Kung Flu,” and Trump advocating for fast-tracking the vaccine through Operation Warp Speed. That disconnect ultimately took lives because even though Operation Warp Speed was successful, Trump’s nationalistic labeling caused some Americans to reject the vaccines it produced. Furthermore, these offensive comments spurred violence toward Asian-Americans; nationalistic ideas misdirected hate onto an innocent group of people.
Equating personal worth with national identity threatens self-assurance. Creating a community that encourages, or can even be built on hate, is unhealthy.
While nationalism has certainly evolved since its founding, and crept its way into many different facets of life, the current state of nationalism in the U.S. is destructive. Reaching out across divides that nationalism causes is the first step toward discrediting harmful stereotypes. Working with different peers, keeping an open mind to new perspectives and ultimately recognizing stereotypes but not accepting them, are all important steps toward dismantling hateful communities.
