RBSE Class 11 Political Science Notes Chapter 7 Nationalism

These comprehensive RBSE Class 11 Political Science Notes Chapter 7 Nationalism will give a brief overview of all the concepts.

RBSE Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 Notes Nationalism

→ Meaning of Nation:
The word ‘Nation’ comes from the Latin word ‘Natus’ which means ‘born’. A Nation, therefore, means people having common origin or coming from a common stock. This is the ethnic view regarding the meaning of Nation. According to Burgess, “A Nation is a population of an ethnic unity, inhabiting a territory of a geographic unity.” According to Bluntschli, “Nation is a union of masses of men   bound together, specially by language and customs in a common civilisation which gives them a sense of unity and distinction from all foreigners.” In brief, a Nation is a group of people bound together by certainties like religion, culture, traditions, conventions and literature, in such a manner that they have a sense of oneness.

→ Distinction between State and Nation
Following are the distinctions between State and Nation :

• State has four essential elements, but elements of Nation are not fixed.
• The elements of a Nation may change and they go on changing, but the elements of State are permanent and they are always the same.
• Idea of oneness is essential for the Nation but not for the State.
• Definite territory is essential for the State but not for the Nation.
• Sovereignty is essential for the State and not I for the Nation.

→ Meaning of Nationalism
Modern age is an age of Nationalism. Generally speaking, Nationalism means devotion for the nation.

• According to Hayer, “Nationalism is a unique combination of Nationality; Nation-State and Patriotism”.
• According to C.D. Burns, “It is a sentimental political concept directly related to the struggle for power, which respects the individuality of State, recognises the variations in law and government and separates group from group on the basis of ideals and beliefs.”
• Nationalism is an emotional form to express the feeling of Nationalism in a unified manner. This force inspires Nationalism to be united in the form of a Nation.

→ Major Elements of Nationalism:
Following are the main elements of Nationalism.

• Common Motherland : Every human being has love for his motherland. People belonging to one place are mutually bound by their love for their j motherland.
• Common Race : According to the ‘word meaning’ of Nationality, the people belonging to the same race or community are the only basis of Nationality. People belonging to the same race have the same language, culture, religion history, literature, traditions and conventions. Thus, there is the racial unity and the people have a sense of awakening.
• Common Language : Common language is also a significant factor in the making of Nationality. It is through the language that one can express one’s views to another and can also know the views of the other.
• Common Interest : The people who have the common economic, political, religious, social interests must unite together under one banner. This is somewhat natural, common interests are more important even than the common race, language, religion and history.

→ Doctrine of National Self-Determination
One of the outstanding theories current during the First World War was that every distinct nationality should form a separate State. A State should consist only of one nationality. State which consists of many nationalities be reorganised on this basis. Every nationality should have the right to determine the form of government under which it would live. If it decides to live along with other nations in one State, well and good. But if it decides to form a separate and independent government of its own, it should have the right to do so. Hence, this principle is also known as the right of self-determination of nations. In one state there can be more than one nation and a nation can have more than one states.
 
→ Liberal Nationalism

• Every Nation has separate entity.
• Each Nation enjoys the right to make emotional and cultural progress in its own way.

→ Democratic Nationalism
In Democratic Nationalism, the sovereignty of the people is tried to make real. French Revolution is the source of Democratic Nationalism. It considered a nation a group of people. It propounded the principle of national self-determination in 1791.

→ Totalitarian Nationalism
Totalitarian Nationalism is a process against Liberal Nationalism and Democratic Nationalism. It has been used to gain two objective - to make the national freedom struggle successful and to expand empire. The first target is progressive, whereas the second one is based on exploitation. Rousseau was a great supporter of Totalitarian Nationalism. Marxian Nationalism Marxian Nationalism came into existence as a process against capitalism. It has its own attitude towards every problem. It explains Nationalism on the basis of economic problems. Marxian Nationalism is socialistic. It is the Nationalism of the exploited and the labour class.