“It is entirely uncontroversial and true to state that nationalism led Europe to war in 1914”. Maybe, but its also an oversimplification. Nationalism – triggered by the denial of nationhood to Bosnian Serbs – was certainly the trigger, but it was great power rivalry which pulled the trigger, and at the heart of that great power rivalry was German expansionism and French revanchism. Likewise, German National Socialism, despite its name, was hardly nationalist. It was rather a gross and brutal imperialism which intended the extermination, enslavement or deportation of the white, Christian nations of Eastern Europe as well as the continent’s Jews; a kind of anti-nationalism. If nationalism means anything it has to be for all nations and that, thankfully, is how the revival of nationalism in continental Europe seems to be shaping up.
David Barnett
3 years ago
Nationalism is not necessarily inconsistent with liberalism. Positive nationalism is an extension of the concept of freedom of association – a very liberal concept.
And equally, globalism can be highly illiberal. Coercing people to associate when they don’t want to is totalitarian.
The key to understanding if something is liberal or not is coercion. If you encroach upon another’s private prerogatives you are illiberal, no matter how much you dress it up in high-sounding concepts.
By contrast self-defence, by force, if necessary, is perfectly compatible with liberalism. Indeed, you could not have the luxury of liberalism, if you could not defend your space.
“It is entirely uncontroversial and true to state that nationalism led Europe to war in 1914”. Maybe, but its also an oversimplification. Nationalism – triggered by the denial of nationhood to Bosnian Serbs – was certainly the trigger, but it was great power rivalry which pulled the trigger, and at the heart of that great power rivalry was German expansionism and French revanchism.
Likewise, German National Socialism, despite its name, was hardly nationalist. It was rather a gross and brutal imperialism which intended the extermination, enslavement or deportation of the white, Christian nations of Eastern Europe as well as the continent’s Jews; a kind of anti-nationalism.
If nationalism means anything it has to be for all nations and that, thankfully, is how the revival of nationalism in continental Europe seems to be shaping up.
Nationalism is not necessarily inconsistent with liberalism. Positive nationalism is an extension of the concept of freedom of association – a very liberal concept.
And equally, globalism can be highly illiberal. Coercing people to associate when they don’t want to is totalitarian.
The key to understanding if something is liberal or not is coercion. If you encroach upon another’s private prerogatives you are illiberal, no matter how much you dress it up in high-sounding concepts.
By contrast self-defence, by force, if necessary, is perfectly compatible with liberalism. Indeed, you could not have the luxury of liberalism, if you could not defend your space.