4 ms·

Protecting one's interest is not nationalist, as long as it's not to the detriment of other nations.

swebs 8y ago
>Nationalism is a political, social, and economic ideology and movement characterized by the promotion of the interests of a particular nation,[1] especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty (self-governance) over its homeland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism
- _qare 8y ago
  >a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalism https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalism
  - yjftsjthsd-h 8y ago
    Oh, that makes more sense. The first definition seems nearly self-evident; what nation state doesn't want to protect its own interest? But there's certainly a distinction in promoting oneself above others.
pjc50 8y ago
The very concept of a national interest is somewhat nationalist, but then I don't believe that "nationalist" always implies "to the detriment of other nations". It often does, due to zero-sum thinking, but it's not intrinsically necessary to the concept of nationalism. (also, exercising nationalism against a colonial power may be to its detriment but also be morally good. This obviously does not apply in the case of France, which itself is a colonial power)
dmos62 8y ago
I was looking up nationalism on Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary, but didn't find it (probably too sensitive a subject at the time), so here's its definition of politics: > POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. This is hardly relevant, but I'm using the occasion to share the great piece of satire that's Devil's Dictionary. Here's a few others: > OCEAN, n. A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man — who has no gills. > POLITENESS, n. The most acceptable hypocrisy. > PERFECTION, n. An imaginary state or quality distinguished from the actual by an element known as excellence; an attribute of the critic. Edit: > PREJUDICE, n. A vagrant opinion without visible means of support.
- beardyw 8y ago
  Here's my suggestion: NATIONALISM,n. Discrimination which is based on geography and thus obviously superior to RACISM and SEXISM which are based on biology. Can be further refined to NEPOTISM and ultimately SELFISM.
- scottlocklin 8y ago
  Nationalism was definitely not considered a sensitive subject in Bierce's time. It was considered the default.
  - dmos62 8y ago
    You might be right, I wouldn't know. I guessed that because I found that a satirical dictionary not having an entry for words nationalism or nation more difficult to believe.

>Nationalism is a political, social, and economic ideology and movement characterized by the promotion of the interests of a particular nation,[1] especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty (self-governance) over its homeland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism

_qare 8y ago
>a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalism https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalism
- yjftsjthsd-h 8y ago
  Oh, that makes more sense. The first definition seems nearly self-evident; what nation state doesn't want to protect its own interest? But there's certainly a distinction in promoting oneself above others.

pjc50 8y ago

The very concept of a national interest is somewhat nationalist, but then I don't believe that "nationalist" always implies "to the detriment of other nations". It often does, due to zero-sum thinking, but it's not intrinsically necessary to the concept of nationalism. (also, exercising nationalism against a colonial power may be to its detriment but also be morally good. This obviously does not apply in the case of France, which itself is a colonial power)

dmos62 8y ago

I was looking up nationalism on Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary, but didn't find it (probably too sensitive a subject at the time), so here's its definition of politics: > POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. This is hardly relevant, but I'm using the occasion to share the great piece of satire that's Devil's Dictionary. Here's a few others: > OCEAN, n. A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man — who has no gills. > POLITENESS, n. The most acceptable hypocrisy. > PERFECTION, n. An imaginary state or quality distinguished from the actual by an element known as excellence; an attribute of the critic. Edit: > PREJUDICE, n. A vagrant opinion without visible means of support.

beardyw 8y ago
Here's my suggestion: NATIONALISM,n. Discrimination which is based on geography and thus obviously superior to RACISM and SEXISM which are based on biology. Can be further refined to NEPOTISM and ultimately SELFISM.
scottlocklin 8y ago
Nationalism was definitely not considered a sensitive subject in Bierce's time. It was considered the default.
- dmos62 8y ago
  You might be right, I wouldn't know. I guessed that because I found that a satirical dictionary not having an entry for words nationalism or nation more difficult to believe.