Ethnic nationalism
Also called: Religious nationalism · Topic: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Displacing Indigenous Peoples"
Meaning
Ethnic nationalism builds national unity around a shared language, religion, descent, customs or culture. It defines 'the people' by who they are born as, not by citizenship. In states with many ethnic groups, it may give full belonging to only one chosen group. In 19th-century Europe, it was closely tied to Romanticism, a movement that valued a shared cultural past.
Example
In the German lands, Herder taught that true German culture lived in the common people (das volk) and in their folk songs and tales. The Grimm brothers published their collection of folktales in 1812. They saw French domination as a threat to German culture. In this way, a German identity was built on language and folk tradition.
Don't confuse with
- Civic nationalism: it includes everyone who is a citizen, whatever their language or religion. Ethnic nationalism draws the line by birth and culture.
Related concepts
- July Revolution
- Greek War of Independence
- Romanticism
- Johann Gottfried Herder
- Volksgeist
- Grimm brothers
- Partition of Poland