Nationalism

Between 1871 and 1914, the continent of Europe experienced a period of relative peace. These 43 years, known as the Belle Époque, or “Beautiful Era,” spanned the gap between two destructive wars – the Franco-Prussian War and the Great War, or World War One. With the guns of 1870-71 finally silent, and the countries of Europe blissfully unaware of the horrors awaiting them just over the horizon, the people enjoyed a time of unprecedented scientific, technological and cultural achievement. Innovative inventions made lives easier, while new directions taken in the arts and theater made lives more enjoyable. And along with this progress came an upsurge in national pride, or nationalism.

Nationalism can take many forms, and has many definitions. At its simplest, it can be expressed as pride in one’s own nation, nationality, ethnicity, religion or political views. It can be a positive thing, unifying people who share one or more of these traits. Patriotism and pride in one’s country are honorable qualities that are to be striven for. But these qualities, if unchecked, can lead to arrogance and feelings of superiority over people of another race, ethnic background, or simply those of a different nationality. As our textbook points out, “nationalism need not cause imperialism,” but the latter often follows the former. Uncontrolled
"patriotism" and imperialism can lead to forcing one’s views upon others, perhaps slowly but progressively, and may ultimately lead to war – against neighboring countries, or sparking civil war within one’s own country.

One example of nationalism in its positive form is a voyage undertaken by ships of the United States Navy during the latter years of the Belle Époque. In December of 1907, a naval force of 16 battleships set sail on an epic journey. In a little over a year, the ships had traveled over 43,000 miles, completely circumnavigating the globe and visiting many countries along the way. With their hulls painted white, the ships soon became known by the nickname, the Great White Fleet.



The battleship Connecticut, flagship of the Great White Fleet

While an admitted purpose of the Great White Fleet was to demonstrate to the world the naval power of the United States, the voyage was also intended to be a journey of peace and goodwill. In both cases, the mission was an overwhelming success. As the fleet put into ports around the world, the sailors acted as ambassadors of American friendship and declared our nation’s peaceful intentions. Citizens of the visited nations responded enthusiastically, with crowds numbering in the thousands turning out to welcome the fleet. Americans back home eagerly followed the progress of the fleet and swelled with pride as their ships and sailors were received with admiration and respect.



A more recent example, one which showed the world the ugly side of nationalism, was the conflict in Yugoslavia. Created after World War One from the wreckage of the Ottoman and Hapsburg empires, Yugoslavia was a conglomeration of six republics, including Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia. Although officially one country, the republics were home to several people groups and nationalities which practiced multiple versions of Christianity and Islam.



The distribution of the three main ethnic groups in Bosnia prior to the outbreak of war - and ethnic cleansing - in 1991.

Since the end of the second world war, Marshall Tito ruled the country with an iron fist, brutally suppressing any signs of nationalism from any of the republics other than sole devotion to the communist state. He also worked to keep the smaller republics from being ruled by Serbia, the largest and home to Yugoslavia’s capital, Belgrade. Ironically, Tito used the slogan “Brotherhood and Unity” to hold Yugoslavia together, but realistically the only thing the people had in common was the fact of their differences.

Upon Tito’s death, Serbia’s influence over the other republics grew, and the people began to dream of creating their own states. In 1991, Slovenia became the first to declare itself a sovereign state. Croatia and Bosnia soon followed. This was nationalism at its finest – the realization of a people’s dream to be free. But Serbia was determined to maintain control over the entire country, and a vicious war broke out. Brutal fighting took place throughout Yugoslavia, with bottled-up and centuries-old hatreds being unleashed. Atrocities against civilians were committed by all sides, and in Bosnia, Serbia conducted a campaign of ethnic cleansing – the deliberate and systematic removal, by any means, of ethnic groups out of their homelands – that was so brutal it required the military intervention of the United Nations and NATO to finally bring it to an end. This was nationalism at its worst.



The parliament building in Sarajevo, Bosnia, burns after being hit by tank fire.



There are many faces to nationalism. It can be something to be proud of, a force for good, a change for the better. But it can also bring out the worst in us. Those of us who feel pride in our nations, religions, politics and ethnicity must never forget that we share this world with others who don’t see things our way. It is up to us to keep the proper perspective, not letting our pride cloud our judgment, and allowing ourselves to degenerate into something less than we truly are.