Inclusive & Exclusive Nationalism
Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 19.2.4
Inclusive Vs Exclusive Nationalism
Inclusive nationalism permits membership of the nation upon the acceptance of its values whereas exclusive nationalism has specific criteria upon which the nation is based such as race or language.
Inclusive nationalism
- Individuals are encouraged to accept the values of the nation.
- Membership of the nation is civic in character and subscribes to traditional liberal values of tolerance and inclusivity and the integrity of state political institutions.
- Cultural, ethnic. linguistic, and religious differences do not affect membership of the nation so long as loyalty is given and its basic values are accepted.
- The values and core characteristics of the nation may change over time as many Western nations have embraced a multicultural character.
Strains in inclusive nationalism
- With the threat of Islamic terrorism in the early 2000s and the rise of populism in the mid-2010s, inclusive nationalism has been placed under strain.
- Populist politicians, like Nigel Farage and Donald Trump, have been criticised for their rhetoric regarding immigration and a particular focus on visible minorities.
- Distinct cultural markers, like the burqa, have been outlawed in a number of European countries and traditional political parties have suffered as new populist parties attract voters with less inclusive policies on immigration.
Exclusive nationalism
- Exclusive nationalism is often favoured by those of the far political right. It is insular and wary of outsiders. North Korea is the most extreme example of exclusive nationalism.
- Homogeneity is the key feature of an exclusive nation. To be a member of the nation, one must meet one or all of the criteria.
- Exclusive nationalism can lead to conflict within nation-states as minorities are persecuted in order to protect the character of the nation. In the most extreme circumstances, this can lead to ethnic cleansing as in the former Yugoslavia and later Kosovo.
Examples of exclusive nationalism
- A group, for example, may speak the language but do not share the majority ethnicity so are persecuted or sidelined. The Uighur Muslims of China, for example, are a persecuted people within China because they do not share the nation’s core characteristics.
- The nation is authoritarian and expects a degree of racial cohesion. This strand of nationalism could be seen within the ideas of the British National Party (BNP) who rejected the concept of duality in identity, for example, British Muslims.