[Applause] so I have a slightly provocative
so I have a slightly provocative
so I have a slightly provocative question to start off with it’s a little
question to start off with it’s a little
question to start off with it’s a little bit ironic I’m the chair of the
bit ironic I’m the chair of the
bit ironic I’m the chair of the International and Global Studies program
International and Global Studies program
International and Global Studies program here at Brandeis but I’m actually very
here at Brandeis but I’m actually very
here at Brandeis but I’m actually very interested in nationalism I’m very
interested in nationalism I’m very
interested in nationalism I’m very interested in how nationalism still has
interested in how nationalism still has
interested in how nationalism still has a major role in the world today and so I
a major role in the world today and so I
a major role in the world today and so I have this provocative question that
have this provocative question that
have this provocative question that maybe we are all a little bit more
maybe we are all a little bit more
maybe we are all a little bit more nationalist than we think we are and
nationalist than we think we are and
nationalist than we think we are and maybe we should pay attention to this
maybe we should pay attention to this
maybe we should pay attention to this when we’re thinking about how global
when we’re thinking about how global
when we’re thinking about how global politics are organized and even how we
politics are organized and even how we
politics are organized and even how we operate and function in our own
operate and function in our own
operate and function in our own societies so as was mentioned I had a
societies so as was mentioned I had a
societies so as was mentioned I had a very sort of upfront and personal
very sort of upfront and personal
very sort of upfront and personal experience of nationalism right after I
experience of nationalism right after I
experience of nationalism right after I graduated from college I went out to
graduated from college I went out to
graduated from college I went out to Eastern Europe where the great
Eastern Europe where the great
Eastern Europe where the great multinational states like Czechoslovakia
multinational states like Czechoslovakia
multinational states like Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia the former Soviet Union were
Yugoslavia the former Soviet Union were
Yugoslavia the former Soviet Union were breaking up into these nationalist
breaking up into these nationalist
breaking up into these nationalist elements these are some friends of mine
elements these are some friends of mine
elements these are some friends of mine who were Bosnians who were defending the
who were Bosnians who were defending the
who were Bosnians who were defending the city of Moscow against Croatian
city of Moscow against Croatian
city of Moscow against Croatian nationalists who wanted to take over the
nationalists who wanted to take over the
nationalists who wanted to take over the city and I saw an awful lot of this
city and I saw an awful lot of this
city and I saw an awful lot of this during the wars in Yugoslavia in Moldova
during the wars in Yugoslavia in Moldova
during the wars in Yugoslavia in Moldova in Western Civ akio broke up and it
in Western Civ akio broke up and it
in Western Civ akio broke up and it really seemed like a kind of primordial
really seemed like a kind of primordial
really seemed like a kind of primordial ER or instinctual response that people
ER or instinctual response that people
ER or instinctual response that people were having in a moment of crisis that
were having in a moment of crisis that
were having in a moment of crisis that they were sort of turning inward and
they were sort of turning inward and
they were sort of turning inward and turning toward each other at a former we
turning toward each other at a former we
turning toward each other at a former we have animate these ancient bonds in
have animate these ancient bonds in
have animate these ancient bonds in order to get through a crisis and so in
order to get through a crisis and so in
order to get through a crisis and so in the 25 years since we’ve had a lot more
the 25 years since we’ve had a lot more
the 25 years since we’ve had a lot more globalization the globalization of the
globalization the globalization of the
globalization the globalization of the economy the internet a lot of
economy the internet a lot of
economy the internet a lot of international travel international
international travel international
international travel international student exchanges that have made on the
student exchanges that have made on the
student exchanges that have made on the world’s made this experience of
world’s made this experience of
world’s made this experience of nationalism this burst after the Cold
nationalism this burst after the Cold
nationalism this burst after the Cold War seemed like sort of an anomaly and
War seemed like sort of an anomaly and
War seemed like sort of an anomaly and that in fact you know we’re moving
that in fact you know we’re moving
that in fact you know we’re moving towards a much more globalized world and
towards a much more globalized world and
towards a much more globalized world and then came the past few years and what do
then came the past few years and what do
then came the past few years and what do we get in the past few years this total
we get in the past few years this total
we get in the past few years this total reassertion of national identity the
reassertion of national identity the
reassertion of national identity the british deciding to leave the European
british deciding to leave the European
british deciding to leave the European Union the Russians reasserting
Union the Russians reasserting
Union the Russians reasserting themselves in the former Soviet sphere
themselves in the former Soviet sphere
themselves in the former Soviet sphere with explicitly nationalist goals
with explicitly nationalist goals
with explicitly nationalist goals the Chinese moving into the South China
the Chinese moving into the South China
the Chinese moving into the South China Sea in defiance of the United Nations
Sea in defiance of the United Nations
Sea in defiance of the United Nations India has a new very explicitly Hindu
India has a new very explicitly Hindu
India has a new very explicitly Hindu nationalist prime minister who talks
nationalist prime minister who talks
nationalist prime minister who talks quite explicitly about being a
quite explicitly about being a
quite explicitly about being a nationalist Hungary along with Poland
nationalist Hungary along with Poland
nationalist Hungary along with Poland France Germany have seen the rise of
France Germany have seen the rise of
France Germany have seen the rise of right-wing nationalist parties and in
right-wing nationalist parties and in
right-wing nationalist parties and in the United States we of course have
the United States we of course have
the United States we of course have Donald Trump who like him or not has
Donald Trump who like him or not has
Donald Trump who like him or not has been very explicit about wanting to make
been very explicit about wanting to make
been very explicit about wanting to make America great again about being an
America great again about being an
America great again about being an American nationalist and so maybe this
American nationalist and so maybe this
American nationalist and so maybe this nationalism that I thought had just sort
nationalism that I thought had just sort
nationalism that I thought had just sort of flared up 25 years ago is actually
of flared up 25 years ago is actually
of flared up 25 years ago is actually there’s more of it around them we think
there’s more of it around them we think
there’s more of it around them we think and maybe it affects us more than we
and maybe it affects us more than we
and maybe it affects us more than we might want to admit even ourselves um
might want to admit even ourselves um
might want to admit even ourselves um now as I said when I saw nationalism
now as I said when I saw nationalism
now as I said when I saw nationalism flare up back in the Central Europe it
flare up back in the Central Europe it
flare up back in the Central Europe it had this kind of instinctive feel to it
had this kind of instinctive feel to it
had this kind of instinctive feel to it this kind of primordial feel like a like
this kind of primordial feel like a like
this kind of primordial feel like a like a tribal engagement of one side against
a tribal engagement of one side against
a tribal engagement of one side against the other and I think that when we think
the other and I think that when we think
the other and I think that when we think about nationalism or when we think about
about nationalism or when we think about
about nationalism or when we think about how human societies are organized we
how human societies are organized we
how human societies are organized we often want to say there’s some kind of
often want to say there’s some kind of
often want to say there’s some kind of instinct behind this there’s some sort
instinct behind this there’s some sort
instinct behind this there’s some sort of biological basis for this you know we
of biological basis for this you know we
of biological basis for this you know we see ants organizing into ant hills very
see ants organizing into ant hills very
see ants organizing into ant hills very naturally we see beavers form dams by
naturally we see beavers form dams by
naturally we see beavers form dams by instinct we see wolves form wolf packs
instinct we see wolves form wolf packs
instinct we see wolves form wolf packs by instinct you know maybe our human
by instinct you know maybe our human
by instinct you know maybe our human societies like nationalism is just a
societies like nationalism is just a
societies like nationalism is just a matter of instinct that’s very tempting
matter of instinct that’s very tempting
matter of instinct that’s very tempting you know we think we’re rightly part of
you know we think we’re rightly part of
you know we think we’re rightly part of the animal kingdom we think maybe you
the animal kingdom we think maybe you
the animal kingdom we think maybe you know we’re just we just experienced this
know we’re just we just experienced this
know we’re just we just experienced this ourselves and so we think that we just
ourselves and so we think that we just
ourselves and so we think that we just have this instinct hardwired into our
have this instinct hardwired into our
have this instinct hardwired into our brains we get some sort of stimulus from
brains we get some sort of stimulus from
brains we get some sort of stimulus from outside and we all you know formed a
outside and we all you know formed a
outside and we all you know formed a society together ought to respond to the
society together ought to respond to the
society together ought to respond to the world around us in collective action but
world around us in collective action but
world around us in collective action but there’s a problem with this if you think
there’s a problem with this if you think
there’s a problem with this if you think about it it’s actually it actually
about it it’s actually it actually
about it it’s actually it actually doesn’t really work for human societies
doesn’t really work for human societies
doesn’t really work for human societies and one of the ways we know it doesn’t
and one of the ways we know it doesn’t
and one of the ways we know it doesn’t work for human societies is that human
work for human societies is that human
work for human societies is that human societies through history change much
societies through history change much
societies through history change much faster than their biology could possibly
faster than their biology could possibly
faster than their biology could possibly change than human biology changes you
change than human biology changes you
change than human biology changes you know human societies have been evolving
know human societies have been evolving
know human societies have been evolving to use a term I have been changing have
to use a term I have been changing have
to use a term I have been changing have been negotiated and overthrown and
been negotiated and overthrown and
been negotiated and overthrown and reconfigured much faster than by our
reconfigured much faster than by our
reconfigured much faster than by our biological change you can see that if
biological change you can see that if
biological change you can see that if you just compare the timeline of a
you just compare the timeline of a
you just compare the timeline of a society that we know is based on
society that we know is based on
society that we know is based on instinct Wolfpack societies to human
instinct Wolfpack societies to human
instinct Wolfpack societies to human societies ah wolves have been organized
societies ah wolves have been organized
societies ah wolves have been organized in gray wolves in particular been
in gray wolves in particular been
in gray wolves in particular been organizing and hunting in wolf packs for
organizing and hunting in wolf packs for
organizing and hunting in wolf packs for as long as human beings have observed
as long as human beings have observed
as long as human beings have observed them they’ve been observed by human
them they’ve been observed by human
them they’ve been observed by human beings for about thirty thousand years
beings for about thirty thousand years
beings for about thirty thousand years we think the gray wolf has been around
we think the gray wolf has been around
we think the gray wolf has been around for about eight hundred thousand years
for about eight hundred thousand years
for about eight hundred thousand years and certainly in all the time that human
and certainly in all the time that human
and certainly in all the time that human beings have been watching wolves they
beings have been watching wolves they
beings have been watching wolves they haven’t changed how they behave they
haven’t changed how they behave they
haven’t changed how they behave they form wolf packs our understanding of how
form wolf packs our understanding of how
form wolf packs our understanding of how wolf packs work has changed but but the
wolf packs work has changed but but the
wolf packs work has changed but but the wolf packs have not changed there’s no
wolf packs have not changed there’s no
wolf packs have not changed there’s no new you know democratic revolution among
new you know democratic revolution among
new you know democratic revolution among wolf packs a human society has actually
wolf packs a human society has actually
wolf packs a human society has actually been around a lot less time than wolf
been around a lot less time than wolf
been around a lot less time than wolf packs you know large-scale organized
packs you know large-scale organized
packs you know large-scale organized societies of the kind we see first
societies of the kind we see first
societies of the kind we see first emerging in Mesopotamia 9,000 years ago
emerging in Mesopotamia 9,000 years ago
emerging in Mesopotamia 9,000 years ago and think about the diversity of
and think about the diversity of
and think about the diversity of societies that you’ve had in 9000 years
societies that you’ve had in 9000 years
societies that you’ve had in 9000 years Peter you’ve had theocracies you’ve had
Peter you’ve had theocracies you’ve had
Peter you’ve had theocracies you’ve had large-scale empires you’ve had
large-scale empires you’ve had
large-scale empires you’ve had colonization you’ve had communism Nazism
colonization you’ve had communism Nazism
colonization you’ve had communism Nazism various forms of fascism liberal
various forms of fascism liberal
various forms of fascism liberal democracy I mean human beings are
democracy I mean human beings are
democracy I mean human beings are constantly changing their societies and
constantly changing their societies and
constantly changing their societies and so it would be very strange
so it would be very strange
so it would be very strange you know if our biology we’re changing
you know if our biology we’re changing
you know if our biology we’re changing that fast
that fast
that fast you know if somehow our instincts were
you know if somehow our instincts were
you know if somehow our instincts were changing that fast in fact I have right
changing that fast in fact I have right
changing that fast in fact I have right here a list of one of my favorite
here a list of one of my favorite
here a list of one of my favorite countries in the world um the Czech
countries in the world um the Czech
countries in the world um the Czech Republic the Czech Republic in just the
Republic the Czech Republic in just the
Republic the Czech Republic in just the past 150 years there’s a little green
past 150 years there’s a little green
past 150 years there’s a little green blip up there on the screen that
blip up there on the screen that
blip up there on the screen that represents the last 150 years in last
represents the last 150 years in last
represents the last 150 years in last 150 years they’ve gone from being under
150 years they’ve gone from being under
150 years they’ve gone from being under the Hapsburgs to having a democratic
the Hapsburgs to having a democratic
the Hapsburgs to having a democratic Czechoslovakia to being occupied by them
Czechoslovakia to being occupied by them
Czechoslovakia to being occupied by them Nazis to forming a communist government
Nazis to forming a communist government
Nazis to forming a communist government after World War two then another
after World War two then another
after World War two then another democratic Czechoslovakia and then
democratic Czechoslovakia and then
democratic Czechoslovakia and then breaking up with the Slovak sin 1993 and
breaking up with the Slovak sin 1993 and
breaking up with the Slovak sin 1993 and going their own way as the Czech
going their own way as the Czech
going their own way as the Czech Republic all of that changed in 150
Republic all of that changed in 150
Republic all of that changed in 150 years the Czech Czech biology hasn’t
years the Czech Czech biology hasn’t
years the Czech Czech biology hasn’t changed that much in 150 years right the
changed that much in 150 years right the
changed that much in 150 years right the Czechs have to don’t have haven’t had
Czechs have to don’t have haven’t had
Czechs have to don’t have haven’t had their instincts rewired in 150 years and
their instincts rewired in 150 years and
their instincts rewired in 150 years and so we have to look someplace else if we
so we have to look someplace else if we
so we have to look someplace else if we want to understand how our societies are
want to understand how our societies are
want to understand how our societies are formed and the place that we should look
formed and the place that we should look
formed and the place that we should look the way we should think about it is not
the way we should think about it is not
the way we should think about it is not that we have instincts
that we have instincts
that we have instincts although we have some instincts you have
although we have some instincts you have
although we have some instincts you have instinct to eat women instinct to
instinct to eat women instinct to
instinct to eat women instinct to procreate but we don’t have a lot of
procreate but we don’t have a lot of
procreate but we don’t have a lot of instincts for how to form a society what
instincts for how to form a society what
instincts for how to form a society what we have instead our minds that are
we have instead our minds that are
we have instead our minds that are uniquely organized to absorb a massive
uniquely organized to absorb a massive
uniquely organized to absorb a massive amount of cultural information that we
amount of cultural information that we
amount of cultural information that we then sift through as we try to figure
then sift through as we try to figure
then sift through as we try to figure out how our society should be organized
out how our society should be organized
out how our society should be organized things that we reflect on and understand
things that we reflect on and understand
things that we reflect on and understand in order to map our place in the world
in order to map our place in the world
in order to map our place in the world and our relations with other people so
and our relations with other people so
and our relations with other people so society what I’m telling you is what Max
society what I’m telling you is what Max
society what I’m telling you is what Max Weber told us more than a hundred years
Weber told us more than a hundred years
Weber told us more than a hundred years ago Society is fundamentally cultural it
ago Society is fundamentally cultural it
ago Society is fundamentally cultural it is a it is not a matter of instinct it’s
is a it is not a matter of instinct it’s
is a it is not a matter of instinct it’s a matter of a cultural creation that we
a matter of a cultural creation that we
a matter of a cultural creation that we participate in – or get oriented and if
participate in – or get oriented and if
participate in – or get oriented and if you think about society that way it’s
you think about society that way it’s
you think about society that way it’s sort of like the software of human
sort of like the software of human
sort of like the software of human beings then of course you know society
beings then of course you know society
beings then of course you know society can change quickly even though our
can change quickly even though our
can change quickly even though our hardware even though our biology doesn’t
hardware even though our biology doesn’t
hardware even though our biology doesn’t change because we’re constantly updating
change because we’re constantly updating
change because we’re constantly updating or changing that software that organizes
or changing that software that organizes
or changing that software that organizes us we’re constantly tweaking the this
us we’re constantly tweaking the this
us we’re constantly tweaking the this culture that we use as a means of
culture that we use as a means of
culture that we use as a means of communication a means of understanding
communication a means of understanding
communication a means of understanding each other so if we think about society
each other so if we think about society
each other so if we think about society as cultural then we start to look at ok
as cultural then we start to look at ok
as cultural then we start to look at ok well what is the culture of modern of
well what is the culture of modern of
well what is the culture of modern of our modern societies it used to be well
our modern societies it used to be well
our modern societies it used to be well before that let me just point out that
before that let me just point out that
before that let me just point out that we need this culture we need
we need this culture we need
we need this culture we need because we don’t have instincts if we
because we don’t have instincts if we
because we don’t have instincts if we had instincts we wouldn’t need to be
had instincts we wouldn’t need to be
had instincts we wouldn’t need to be constantly downloading the software to
constantly downloading the software to
constantly downloading the software to tell us how to orient ourselves but in
tell us how to orient ourselves but in
tell us how to orient ourselves but in fact if we don’t have that software we
fact if we don’t have that software we
fact if we don’t have that software we experience what sociologists call enemy
experience what sociologists call enemy
experience what sociologists call enemy which is the sense of disorientation a
which is the sense of disorientation a
which is the sense of disorientation a sense of not really knowing where we are
sense of not really knowing where we are
sense of not really knowing where we are not knowing what we can expect from
not knowing what we can expect from
not knowing what we can expect from other people not knowing what other
other people not knowing what other
other people not knowing what other people expect from us an extremely
people expect from us an extremely
people expect from us an extremely uncomfortable position to be in
uncomfortable position to be in
uncomfortable position to be in nobody likes enemy and human beings are
nobody likes enemy and human beings are
nobody likes enemy and human beings are designed to move away from that as
designed to move away from that as
designed to move away from that as quickly as possible and to generate new
quickly as possible and to generate new
quickly as possible and to generate new cultural understandings of their
cultural understandings of their
cultural understandings of their position in the world to figure out
position in the world to figure out
position in the world to figure out where we are um so what well where how
where we are um so what well where how
where we are um so what well where how do we get to the culture that we now
do we get to the culture that we now
do we get to the culture that we now know it used to be that human societies
know it used to be that human societies
know it used to be that human societies were organized largely around religion
were organized largely around religion
were organized largely around religion that there was a sense that you the
that there was a sense that you the
that there was a sense that you the social order had been mandated by some
social order had been mandated by some
social order had been mandated by some sort of divine presence and that this
sort of divine presence and that this
sort of divine presence and that this social order extended out to the cosmos
social order extended out to the cosmos
social order extended out to the cosmos itself to route itself in this divine
itself to route itself in this divine
itself to route itself in this divine legitimacy in medieval Europe that was
legitimacy in medieval Europe that was
legitimacy in medieval Europe that was christened um and so you know everything
christened um and so you know everything
christened um and so you know everything that happened in the political
that happened in the political
that happened in the political organization and social organization was
organization and social organization was
organization and social organization was mediated through the culture of
mediated through the culture of
mediated through the culture of Christianity and through the culture of
Christianity and through the culture of
Christianity and through the culture of the Catholic Church uh and that became
the Catholic Church uh and that became
the Catholic Church uh and that became the common basis of understanding you
the common basis of understanding you
the common basis of understanding you know peasants felt like they could
know peasants felt like they could
know peasants felt like they could survive their terrible treatment because
survive their terrible treatment because
survive their terrible treatment because this was just a veil of Tears that human
this was just a veil of Tears that human
this was just a veil of Tears that human beings would pass through on their way
beings would pass through on their way
beings would pass through on their way to an eternal life um that was the way
to an eternal life um that was the way
to an eternal life um that was the way you know human societies were organized
you know human societies were organized
you know human societies were organized for thousands of years not just in
for thousands of years not just in
for thousands of years not just in Europe but in Asia and healeth Hinduism
Europe but in Asia and healeth Hinduism
Europe but in Asia and healeth Hinduism as a major organizing principle of the
as a major organizing principle of the
as a major organizing principle of the subcontinent with Islam at the center of
subcontinent with Islam at the center of
subcontinent with Islam at the center of the Ottoman Empire the religion was the
the Ottoman Empire the religion was the
the Ottoman Empire the religion was the way these social ideas this culture was
way these social ideas this culture was
way these social ideas this culture was rooted for there’s a long complicated
rooted for there’s a long complicated
rooted for there’s a long complicated story of how that traditional society
story of how that traditional society
story of how that traditional society dissolved but it certainly did
dissolved but it certainly did
dissolved but it certainly did sometime around the 15th century in
sometime around the 15th century in
sometime around the 15th century in Europe it begins to be undermined by
Europe it begins to be undermined by
Europe it begins to be undermined by secular ideas by other ideas about
secular ideas by other ideas about
secular ideas by other ideas about political legitimacy and gradually the
political legitimacy and gradually the
political legitimacy and gradually the divine mandate is beginning to fade away
divine mandate is beginning to fade away
divine mandate is beginning to fade away is beginning to dissipate leaving
is beginning to dissipate leaving
is beginning to dissipate leaving believing that threat of enemy leaving
believing that threat of enemy leaving
believing that threat of enemy leaving that threat of not people not being
that threat of not people not being
that threat of not people not being oriented in the world and so prompting a
oriented in the world and so prompting a
oriented in the world and so prompting a search and exploration of new way to
search and exploration of new way to
search and exploration of new way to orient ourselves of a new foundation for
orient ourselves of a new foundation for
orient ourselves of a new foundation for societies this is the age of revolution
societies this is the age of revolution
societies this is the age of revolution right this is the age of great change
right this is the age of great change
right this is the age of great change starting from the 16th century with
starting from the 16th century with
starting from the 16th century with Henry the 8th breaking England away from
Henry the 8th breaking England away from
Henry the 8th breaking England away from the Catholic Church in forming the
the Catholic Church in forming the
the Catholic Church in forming the Church of England the age of revolution
Church of England the age of revolution
Church of England the age of revolution going forward to the French Revolution
going forward to the French Revolution
going forward to the French Revolution overthrowing the ancien régime that
overthrowing the ancien régime that
overthrowing the ancien régime that have been rooted in a Catholic sense of
have been rooted in a Catholic sense of
have been rooted in a Catholic sense of order ultimately up through the 20th
order ultimately up through the 20th
order ultimately up through the 20th century with the dissolution of the
century with the dissolution of the
century with the dissolution of the great empires the Hapsburgs of the
great empires the Hapsburgs of the
great empires the Hapsburgs of the Czarist Russia the Ottoman Empire all
Czarist Russia the Ottoman Empire all
Czarist Russia the Ottoman Empire all collapsing and losing any sense of the
collapsing and losing any sense of the
collapsing and losing any sense of the Divine Right of Kings of a divine
Divine Right of Kings of a divine
Divine Right of Kings of a divine mandate for their rule and shifting
mandate for their rule and shifting
mandate for their rule and shifting instead to a totally new basis to a
instead to a totally new basis to a
instead to a totally new basis to a foundation in nationalism that our
foundation in nationalism that our
foundation in nationalism that our societies are now these this cultural
societies are now these this cultural
societies are now these this cultural conversation isn’t organized around the
conversation isn’t organized around the
conversation isn’t organized around the church it isn’t organized around
church it isn’t organized around
church it isn’t organized around religion it’s organized around the
religion it’s organized around the
religion it’s organized around the people and what the people on all
people and what the people on all
people and what the people on all governments are supposed to have their
governments are supposed to have their
governments are supposed to have their legitimacy in serving the people and the
legitimacy in serving the people and the
legitimacy in serving the people and the origin of our moral ideas or our values
origin of our moral ideas or our values
origin of our moral ideas or our values they’re supposed to be oriented toward
they’re supposed to be oriented toward
they’re supposed to be oriented toward our own national communities among among
our own national communities among among
our own national communities among among these are the people whom we participate
these are the people whom we participate
these are the people whom we participate in a cultural conversation it doesn’t
in a cultural conversation it doesn’t
in a cultural conversation it doesn’t mean that we don’t pay attention other
mean that we don’t pay attention other
mean that we don’t pay attention other countries of course we do
countries of course we do
countries of course we do but the major conversation that we have
but the major conversation that we have
but the major conversation that we have most we have most human beings on the
most we have most human beings on the
most we have most human beings on the planet are participating in a
planet are participating in a
planet are participating in a conversation that has the boundaries of
conversation that has the boundaries of
conversation that has the boundaries of a nation there are some principles to
a nation there are some principles to
a nation there are some principles to nationalism all nations are different
nationalism all nations are different
nationalism all nations are different all national cultures are different but
all national cultures are different but
all national cultures are different but there are some foundational principles
there are some foundational principles
there are some foundational principles of nationalism very well described by
of nationalism very well described by
of nationalism very well described by wonder
wonder
wonder sociologists of nationalism Leah
sociologists of nationalism Leah
sociologists of nationalism Leah Greenfeld at Boston University has come
Greenfeld at Boston University has come
Greenfeld at Boston University has come up with this list of things that all
up with this list of things that all
up with this list of things that all nations seem to share even as they
nations seem to share even as they
nations seem to share even as they change very in their cultures um we
change very in their cultures um we
change very in their cultures um we believe in popular sovereignty we
believe in popular sovereignty we
believe in popular sovereignty we basically believe that if a government
basically believe that if a government
basically believe that if a government isn’t at least paying lip service to the
isn’t at least paying lip service to the
isn’t at least paying lip service to the idea of serving the people it’s doing
idea of serving the people it’s doing
idea of serving the people it’s doing something wrong and even dictatorial
something wrong and even dictatorial
something wrong and even dictatorial regimes say they’re doing they’re
regimes say they’re doing they’re
regimes say they’re doing they’re protecting their people they’re
protecting their people they’re
protecting their people they’re defending their people we believe in a
defending their people we believe in a
defending their people we believe in a certain amount of solidarity with our
certain amount of solidarity with our
certain amount of solidarity with our fellow Nationals we expect them to obey
fellow Nationals we expect them to obey
fellow Nationals we expect them to obey the laws they expect us to we expect
the laws they expect us to we expect
the laws they expect us to we expect them to treat us with some respect and
them to treat us with some respect and
them to treat us with some respect and that goes to this third principle it’s
that goes to this third principle it’s
that goes to this third principle it’s very important um the idea of
very important um the idea of
very important um the idea of fundamental equality within the society
fundamental equality within the society
fundamental equality within the society as members of the national community and
as members of the national community and
as members of the national community and getting a certain amount of dignity as a
getting a certain amount of dignity as a
getting a certain amount of dignity as a member of the nation now all nations
member of the nation now all nations
member of the nation now all nations struggle with this idea of equality the
struggle with this idea of equality the
struggle with this idea of equality the United States particularly has struggled
United States particularly has struggled
United States particularly has struggled you through decades of slavery through
you through decades of slavery through
you through decades of slavery through you know the struggles over racial
you know the struggles over racial
you know the struggles over racial rights and and women’s rights and then
rights and and women’s rights and then
rights and and women’s rights and then the movement to acknowledge different
the movement to acknowledge different
the movement to acknowledge different forms of sexuality we struggle to
forms of sexuality we struggle to
forms of sexuality we struggle to acknowledge that everyone has that equal
acknowledge that everyone has that equal
acknowledge that everyone has that equal dignity but the fact that we struggle is
dignity but the fact that we struggle is
dignity but the fact that we struggle is evidence that we take it seriously and
evidence that we take it seriously and
evidence that we take it seriously and nothing will get you on the you know
nothing will get you on the you know
nothing will get you on the you know with page six of the New York Post
with page six of the New York Post
with page six of the New York Post faster than treating somebody than some
faster than treating somebody than some
faster than treating somebody than some rich businessman you know treating
rich businessman you know treating
rich businessman you know treating somebody dismissively or some football
somebody dismissively or some football
somebody dismissively or some football star saying you know do you know who I
star saying you know do you know who I
star saying you know do you know who I am trying to elbow his way into a club
am trying to elbow his way into a club
am trying to elbow his way into a club we expect to treat each other with a
we expect to treat each other with a
we expect to treat each other with a certain amount of equality and dignity
certain amount of equality and dignity
certain amount of equality and dignity within this within this community and
within this within this community and
within this within this community and nationalism the last thing I would say
nationalism the last thing I would say
nationalism the last thing I would say about the principles of nationalism is
about the principles of nationalism is
about the principles of nationalism is it can be rooted in ethnic strife it can
it can be rooted in ethnic strife it can
it can be rooted in ethnic strife it can be aggressive it can be xenophobic but
be aggressive it can be xenophobic but
be aggressive it can be xenophobic but not necessarily not necessarily it can
not necessarily not necessarily it can
not necessarily not necessarily it can instead just be this sense of having a
instead just be this sense of having a
instead just be this sense of having a place in your community among fellow
place in your community among fellow
place in your community among fellow equals um the one of the best
equals um the one of the best
equals um the one of the best expressions of nationalism it gives you
expressions of nationalism it gives you
expressions of nationalism it gives you a sense of its uplift and the sense of
a sense of its uplift and the sense of
a sense of its uplift and the sense of the power of what we’re dealing with
the power of what we’re dealing with
the power of what we’re dealing with comes from the English from Shakespeare
comes from the English from Shakespeare
comes from the English from Shakespeare one of the first nations arguably the
one of the first nations arguably the
one of the first nations arguably the first nation
first nation
first nation the first community organized as a
the first community organized as a
the first community organized as a nation when Henry the fifth in
nation when Henry the fifth in
nation when Henry the fifth in Shakespeare’s play tries to encourage
Shakespeare’s play tries to encourage
Shakespeare’s play tries to encourage his soldiers to join him in the fight in
his soldiers to join him in the fight in
his soldiers to join him in the fight in the Battle of Agincourt um he tells them
the Battle of Agincourt um he tells them
the Battle of Agincourt um he tells them he quotes it makes a speech that’s been
he quotes it makes a speech that’s been
he quotes it makes a speech that’s been quoted for centuries since now as an
quoted for centuries since now as an
quoted for centuries since now as an expression of a kind of national sense
expression of a kind of national sense
expression of a kind of national sense of uplift and dignity he says we few we
of uplift and dignity he says we few we
of uplift and dignity he says we few we happy few we band of brothers
happy few we band of brothers
happy few we band of brothers for he today that sheds his blood with
for he today that sheds his blood with
for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother be he ne’er so
me shall be my brother be he ne’er so
me shall be my brother be he ne’er so vile this day will gentle his condition
vile this day will gentle his condition
vile this day will gentle his condition Henry’s not saying get out there and
Henry’s not saying get out there and
Henry’s not saying get out there and fight for me I’m your King do it I want
fight for me I’m your King do it I want
fight for me I’m your King do it I want he’s saying get out there and join me my
he’s saying get out there and join me my
he’s saying get out there and join me my brother’s my equals in this battle you
brother’s my equals in this battle you
brother’s my equals in this battle you may be a very low status you may be a
may be a very low status you may be a
may be a very low status you may be a vile but this day will gentle your
vile but this day will gentle your
vile but this day will gentle your condition this day will make you a
condition this day will make you a
condition this day will make you a gentleman and obviously today we would
gentleman and obviously today we would
gentleman and obviously today we would add sisters to that we would expand the
add sisters to that we would expand the
add sisters to that we would expand the circle of equality but that sense of
circle of equality but that sense of
circle of equality but that sense of dignity as a member of the nation is
dignity as a member of the nation is
dignity as a member of the nation is still very important and that encourages
still very important and that encourages
still very important and that encourages me to think that nationalism provides
me to think that nationalism provides
me to think that nationalism provides this sense of orientation the sense of
this sense of orientation the sense of
this sense of orientation the sense of dignity and probably isn’t going away
dignity and probably isn’t going away
dignity and probably isn’t going away anytime soon
anytime soon
anytime soon yes societies do change but this
yes societies do change but this
yes societies do change but this particular formation that we have a
particular formation that we have a
particular formation that we have a place you know oriented through a common
place you know oriented through a common
place you know oriented through a common culture with our fellow centered
culture with our fellow centered
culture with our fellow centered citizens
citizens
citizens I would suggest probably isn’t going to
I would suggest probably isn’t going to
I would suggest probably isn’t going to go away it just it just feels too good
go away it just it just feels too good
go away it just it just feels too good it gives us too much of a sense of our
it gives us too much of a sense of our
it gives us too much of a sense of our orientation in the planet and our
orientation in the planet and our
orientation in the planet and our relations with our fellow citizens so to
relations with our fellow citizens so to
relations with our fellow citizens so to manage it we should recognize it’s
manage it we should recognize it’s
manage it we should recognize it’s probably not going away we should
probably not going away we should
probably not going away we should recognize that different nations have
recognize that different nations have
recognize that different nations have different operating systems different
different operating systems different
different operating systems different cultures and respect those differences
cultures and respect those differences
cultures and respect those differences and even consider how the national
and even consider how the national
and even consider how the national culture your own national culture has
culture your own national culture has
culture your own national culture has had an effect on you because I tell you
had an effect on you because I tell you
had an effect on you because I tell you it can be more powerful than you think
it can be more powerful than you think
it can be more powerful than you think it is thank you very much
it is thank you very much
it is thank you very much you
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