4th Lecture Nationalism and Globalization

International Political Community
Nationalism & Globalization
Lecture by: Zahid Mehmood Zahid, PhD (IR) NDU, NOA Islamabad.
What’s the Difference
Right and Left
Right Wing Left Wing
Right left Politics, Ideologies, Groups etc.
Just imagine the killings in the wars, especially WWI
& WWII!
Why people killed each other.
Nationalism
 Nationalism has been derived from nation.
 Nation is a sociological term, referring to a group of people
who have a sense of union with one another.
Nation Defined:-
“union of people based on similarities in linguistic pattern, ethnic
relationship, cultural heritage, and geographic proximity.”
 Nationalism, is an ideological expression of the nation state.
 One’s nationality is expressed through citizenship instead of
ethnicity.
 Pakistani, Chinese, Indian, Iranian, etc.
 However, stateless people maintain their ethnic or religious

nationality;
 Jews before Israel, Kurds today.
 Nationalism has been the most powerful political idea of the
past two centuries.
 It calls on people to identify with the interests of their national

group & support the creation of state – to support those
interests.
 Hence, nations create states…., to have sovereign control over

their own affairs. (Creation of Pakistan)
Characteristics of Nationalism
 Patriotism is a gesture – saluting flag, singing national
anthems, mounting flags, ‘God Bless America’. (Saying)
 Nationalism requires its followers sacrifice family, fortune,

even life for the interest of the nation state. (Doing)
 Nationalistic emotions are stronger because it gives Identity

that goes beyond “Self”.
 It simplifies complex issues by defining “we” and “they”. (US
vs. Them)
 Its extreme form leads to imperialism, militarism, etc.

(expansionism and Fascism).
 A justification for the subjugation of other nations.
 Liberating - Asians, Africans (Anticolonial).
 Competitive & positive influence – however, its narrow vision

can trigger conflicts against others.
 Citizenship rendering – as it has replaced tribalism.
 Millions sacrificed, died, property destroyed, resources
plundered, all in the name of the state (national interest).
 All other ‘isms’ (feminism, environmentalism, Islamism) are

uncomfortable with the idea of ‘state/nationalism’.
 As they appeal to humankind in general than the narrow ‘State

Interest’.
Types of Nationalism
 Left nationalism: a tool to loosen the grip on the people of the
monarchist oppression.
 J. Bentham supported it – to improve free trade, education,
welfare services for national prosperity and strength.
 used it to improve the well-being of the citizens
 Right nationalism: a vehicle to forge unity to expand nation’s
interests.
 WW1 was the result of the imperialistic competition among
Europe’s rightist nationalists.
 It is used to encourage unity & stability.
History of the Nationalism
 French Revolution proved stimulant with its two ideologies:
 Democracy & Nationalism
 Prior to the revolution people thought themselves as subjects of
the monarchs than member of the nation.
 People rebelled & demanded to be served served by the

government. (Rousseau)
 Leftist Nationalism impelled them to abolish rank & titles to

ensure equality.
 French values – liberty from monarchist oppression, equal in the
state, and fraternity with French nation.
 Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815) spread the nationalism across the

European society – infusing the ideas of nationalism and self-
determination.
 19th century became the century of nationalism – defeating

monarchy & spreading democracy.
Nationalism source of Wars & equality?
 End of the WWI saw a rise in Leftist nationalism.
 Europe saw a national self-determination (Poland, Check,

Yugoslavia), BUT not Asia and Africa.
 In 1920-30s right nationalism resurged – Italy, Germany,

Japan, and Spain – resulting in WWII.
 After WWII, anticolonial nationalism rose to free Asia and

Africa. (third world nationalism)
 First world was immersed in Communism/Capitalism battle
(Cold war)
 Leftist nationalism resurfaced after the demise of USSR –

Central Asia & East Europe.
 In 21st century, Bush’s preemption and unilateralism are fresh

expression of rightist nationalism.
Nationalism as Theory
Why are people asked to commit to an idea, tradition, and history?
 Because, it (nationalism) gives a political identity to the nation.
Nationalism as Ideology
As ideology it acts as:
1. World View (How do Americans want to see China).
2. Vision (revivalism – Turkey, Iran, Germany, China).
3. Unifying ideology as it demands the subordination of all
identities to a national group (India, Pakistna).
4. Exclusivist in nature (domestically & internationally) “love it or
leave it”, “Speak English or get the hell out”, “Hindustan mein rehna ho
Jai Shri Ram kehna ho ga”, “Beaf eaters should go to Pakistan”.
How Nationalism is Promoted
 That can be seen in following practices:
1. Education of youth.
2. Children are taught why their country is the best.
3. Heroic stories of the national leaders are told.
4. History of the country is taught in positive tone.
5. Political speeches invoking;
 National honor,
 Self-interest,
 Glorious traditions,
 Fallen heroes are subtle persuaders.
Challenges to the Contemporary Nationalism
 Nationalism has been facing a challenge of globalization
(deterritorialization, free movement beyond border).
 Few Muslims condemn the nation-state and call on their co-

religionists to move beyond national boundaries and join a
single nation – Ummah (Pan Islamism).
 It is post Col War movement, projecting a fear that Muslim

lands will be divided into North Africa, Central Asia, and
Middle East.
Conclusion:
 Nationalism is an ideological expression of national interest.
 It unites few people and divides others and demands loyalty to

the national interest.
 It is identity rendering in modern nation state system.
 It is reactionary, against others, asks for unity, promises the

revival of a perceived utopian state.
Globalization
Globalization Defined:
“the inexorable integration of markets, nation states, and
technologies to a degree never witnessed before—in a way that is
enabling individuals, corporations, and nation states to reach around
the world farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before.”
Tom Friedman
“The increasing integration of the world in terms of
communications, culture, and economics; may also refer to changing
experiences of space and time accompanying this process.”
Globalization explained
 It is widening, deepening, and speeding up of worldwide
interconnectedness for the collective good. (NPT, WTO, IMF,
FATF)
 It is the increasing:
1. Interdependence (economic, recession),
2. Integration (conflict, Peace, refugees, EU, Brexit, Russo-
Ukraine war – inflation).
3. Interaction (people, culture, businesses).
Thanks to technology: industrial, communication, and information
revolutions.
Three Perspectives on Globalization
Globalists (optimists):
 Expansion of global market and free flow of goods via trade
liberalization.
 Emergence of homogenous global culture, where democracy

and capitalism are the global values.
 North South divide is over, and conflicts have been reduced.

 Economic growth, increasing prosperity with the help of Int
financial institutions.
Skeptics (pessimists):
 They believe, globalization as a socially constructed
phenomenon, and is beneficial for few not for all.
 North-south divide has disappeared in favor of global market.
 Wealth has been concentrated into the hands of a tiny minority.
 Global community is an illusion – is far from reality.

 Economic and political activities are controlled by the developed
world.
 Armed conflicts have not ceased to exist.
 It is instrument of imperialism (Americanization, Westernization,

& equal to colonization).
 West exports the social structures of modernity - capitalism,

industrialism, rationalism, urbanism, individualism to the world.
Transformationalists:
 They see state sovereignty undermined by WTO, IMF etc.
 Globalization diffuses authority among other stake holders as

well.
 States have transformed and learned to operate in the new

context.
Engines of Globalization
 Technological – communication & information revolutions.
 Economics - Laissez Fair (no state interference) based on

Demand & Supply mechanism.
 Political - Financial institutions – WTO, IMF, & WB.
Friedman’s 3 Waves of Globalization
 First, the age of discovery 1492-1800 European discoveries

and expansionism.
 Second, 1800-1950 major expansion in the spread of European

empires MNCs.
 Third, 1960-onward Services based economy in the era of US

hegemony, micro chip, digital age, information revolution, AI
– the virtual world.
Globalization at different levels
 Various types of global connectivity across a variety of human
activities.
 Few call it 4 types of globalization;

 Economic
 Social
 Political
 Cultural
Economic Globalization
 Increasing economic interdependence.
 International division of labor and technology – ensured this

interdependence.
 Rising volume of capital flows across the world in the form of

investments.
However
Capital remains concentrated into the hands of wealthiest nations
Political Globalization
 National policies that bring people together politically in the

presence of global institutions.
 Global and regional institutions are rising in importance. (UN,

EU, ASEAN, SCO, NATO, BRI, BRICs, etc.)
 States have joined hands for peace and prosperity.
 Non-state actors have gained power.

Social & Cultural Globalization
 Increases exposure to foreign cultures, has lead to the

emergence of homogenous culture.
 Which is Western in form and nature, and is exported to the

rest of the world.
That has resulted in a sharp increase in reactionary “nationalist”

and “fanatical” groups against the West.
Manifestations of globalization
1. Communications
2. Culture
3. Travel
4. Production
5. Ecology
6. Health
Conclusion!
 Globalization is a reality and here to stay, as it has crept into

every sphere and dimension of human life.
 Populism posed a challenge but in few parts of the world;

however, that too has receded as the world is too dependent upon
each other that has no alternative.
 Pandemic also debilitated the globalizing process but that was

also dealt with global effort (WHO, Information sharing,
Vaccine, Mask, Ventilator).
Questions to consider.
 The contemporary rise of neo-nationalism (populism) in
globalized world is the revenge of nation state, discuss.
 Critically analyse how globalization has undermined different
cultures by universalizing the western concept of modernity
across the globe?
 Globalization promotes or reduces economic inequality?
 Does globalization mean that the state has become irrelevant?

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International Political Community

Nationalism & Globalization

Right and Left

Right Wing Left Wing

Right left Politics, Ideologies, Groups etc.

Why people killed each other.

 However, stateless people maintain their ethnic or religious

 It calls on people to identify with the interests of their national

 Hence, nations create states…., to have sovereign control over

 Nationalism requires its followers sacrifice family, fortune,

 Nationalistic emotions are stronger because it gives Identity

 Its extreme form leads to imperialism, militarism, etc.

 A justification for the subjugation of other nations.

 Competitive & positive influence – however, its narrow vision

 Citizenship rendering – as it has replaced tribalism.

 All other ‘isms’ (feminism, environmentalism, Islamism) are

 As they appeal to humankind in general than the narrow ‘State

 People rebelled & demanded to be served served by the

 Leftist Nationalism impelled them to abolish rank & titles to

 Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815) spread the nationalism across the

 19th century became the century of nationalism – defeating

 Europe saw a national self-determination (Poland, Check,

 In 1920-30s right nationalism resurged – Italy, Germany,

 After WWII, anticolonial nationalism rose to free Asia and

 Leftist nationalism resurfaced after the demise of USSR –

 In 21st century, Bush’s preemption and unilateralism are fresh

 Few Muslims condemn the nation-state and call on their co-

 It is post Col War movement, projecting a fear that Muslim

 It unites few people and divides others and demands loyalty to

 It is identity rendering in modern nation state system.

 It is reactionary, against others, asks for unity, promises the

 Emergence of homogenous global culture, where democracy

 North South divide is over, and conflicts have been reduced.

 North-south divide has disappeared in favor of global market.

 Wealth has been concentrated into the hands of a tiny minority.

 Global community is an illusion – is far from reality.

 Armed conflicts have not ceased to exist.

 It is instrument of imperialism (Americanization, Westernization,

 West exports the social structures of modernity - capitalism,

 Globalization diffuses authority among other stake holders as

 States have transformed and learned to operate in the new

 Technological – communication & information revolutions.

 Economics - Laissez Fair (no state interference) based on

 Political - Financial institutions – WTO, IMF, & WB.

 First, the age of discovery 1492-1800 European discoveries

 Second, 1800-1950 major expansion in the spread of European

 Third, 1960-onward Services based economy in the era of US

 Few call it 4 types of globalization;

 Increasing economic interdependence.

 International division of labor and technology – ensured this

 Rising volume of capital flows across the world in the form of

 National policies that bring people together politically in the

 Global and regional institutions are rising in importance. (UN,

 States have joined hands for peace and prosperity.

 Non-state actors have gained power.

 Increases exposure to foreign cultures, has lead to the

 Which is Western in form and nature, and is exported to the

That has resulted in a sharp increase in reactionary “nationalist”

 Globalization is a reality and here to stay, as it has crept into

 Populism posed a challenge but in few parts of the world;

 Pandemic also debilitated the globalizing process but that was

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