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> Nationalism by definition involves suppressing a segment of the population [...] Great, but what does that have to do with my question, exactly? Were Kemalis
by Cyph0n 8y ago
> Nationalism by definition involves suppressing a segment of the population [...]
Great, but what does that have to do with my question, exactly? Were Kemalist leaders not nationalist autocrats?
Or are you trying to argue that nationalism is necessary for a country to transition into a democracy?
- yalph 8y agoYou first tell me who the hell you call “Kemalist” then I will tell you whether or not they are Kemalist at all. Dont throw around “Kemalist” liberally to make a point. Then we can discuss further.
- ethbro 8y ago> Or are you trying to argue that nationalism is necessary for a country to transition into a democracy? I'd argue that nationalism is a requisite step for a diverse country, including multiple ethnic or cultural groups within its borders, to become a democracy. (And I'm sure I'm cribbing an old idea in the field here) It seems like there's little basis for common action without a supergroup which includes, binds, and restrains all otherwise oppositional parties inside a legal framework. I'd argue that's why uni-party "democracies" tend to be so fragile. When the party becomes the state, then opponents of the party can only be opponents of the state.