The Return of Nationalism

We are living in "interesting times," marked by a dangerous global landscape and a resurgence of nationalism. Modern nationalism, according to philosopher Isaiah Berlin, originated in Germany as a counter-movement to the universalist, rationalist ideals of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. Thinker Johann Gottfried Herder championed this new ideology, advocating for the unique value of "Blut und Boden" – blood and soil – and the distinctiveness of each people's traditions, language, and identity.

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Nationalism is a comprehensible reaction of small and weak societies against the imperialist aggressiveness of the great powers.

Herder's vision of nationalism was not inherently racist or exclusionary; rather, it was a positive assertion of particularity against the perceived imperialist aggression of larger powers. It championed the right of smaller, weaker societies to preserve their unique cultures and identities. However, this concept evolved, particularly with thinkers like Fichte, to incorporate more exclusive and even racist elements. Berlin noted that nationalism often takes a violent, xenophobic turn when intertwined with romantic irrationalism, shifting from defending one's own to despising others and asserting superiority.

The current era of globalization, much like the Enlightenment, is characterized by its homogenizing, leveling, and rationalist tendencies. This has, in turn, provoked a strong nationalist reaction. Simultaneously, there's a noted "death of reason" and a rise in irrationalism, manifesting as xenophobia, fundamentalism, racism, and apocalyptic sectarianism – a "return of the wizards." If this irrationalism merges with nationalism once again, the author warns of a potential "return of the tragic," echoing the violence and barbarism of political totalitarianism.

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If this irrationalism mixes again with nationalism, we run the certain risk of witnessing the 'return of the tragic,' the exhumation of political totalitarianism, with its inevitable toll of violence and barbarism.

While nationalism never truly disappeared, even during the peak of globalization and the liberal world order post-1991, it was often overshadowed by internationalism and multilateralism. However, the underlying currents of nationalist sentiment have resurfaced. The article suggests that the current global climate, with its emphasis on particular identities and reactions against perceived global uniformity, indicates a significant and potentially dangerous shift in the international political landscape.

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But during this period, the great powers, following the example of the United States, emphasized internationalism and multilateralism.