Ovi Magazine Issue #24: Nationalism - Published: 2013-01-31

Nationalism and patriotism
The pioneer of Socialism in Greece, Alexandros
Papanastasiou (prime minister in 1924), considered
nationalism as something pure, stressing that:
“Nationalism is a form of manifestation national
sentiment. And again has its roots in the sociological
instinct becoming a superior manifestation of
this.”
Ion Dragoumis, one of the greatest figures in the
struggle for the liberation of Macedonia from the
Turks and the Bulgarians; identified nationalistic
activities with the active support of the homeland.
“To live means log into my Nation. Affiliated with
the Nation I’m becoming stronger, channeling all
my strength there, that to the end,” he said.
Nowadays unfortunately the interpreters of
the neo-nationalism do not gamble in activating
patriotic forces of a nation but by activating fearful
emotions. Activating conservative syndromes
and hysterical emotions that lead, ultimately,
to the perception of the Nazi obsession
about “racial purity” - certainly not acting
aggressively as the Hitler’s Nazis - but
guarding – always according to them -
‘national’ achievements.
The difference with the healthy
patriotism lies in the fact that real patriots
show loyalty to the constitutional contract
that binds the citizens with the state and
the whole; that triggers any positive power
and virtues, while showing abnegation to
anything personal against the good of the
society sacrificing i.e. the “I” to “we.” Real
patriotism also displays love for the country
and freedom and puts the common interests
and rights of the citizens living under the
same constitutional framework - regardless
their origins - over of private, or the interests
of a group; defending universal values as
freedom, equality and justice, essential
components of democracy.
The neo-nationalism however dominated
by fascist attitudes cannot tolerance any
of those values. Phobias cannot thrive in
freedom, equality and justice. Patriotism
is based on love for the country while
neo-nationalism in hatred for others. It
was the French President De Gaulle who
eloquently has said it, “Patriotism is when
you put above all the love for your country.
Nationalism is when you put above all the
hate for the other.”
Love for our country can be expressed
mainly with actions, activating the citizens
and not entrench their operations and lead
them to extreme behaviors or thoughts.
Jokingly I could say that for me, as Greek,
“nationalist is everybody who seriously
believes that their country is better than
Greece.” The same of course could be said
by French, an Italian, a German, etc.
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The difference is that a patriot is the
one who strives to give to his homeland to
help her to become better. For example, a
Greek patriot is the one who strives, offers
and make personal sacrifices for Greece so
that Greece can do better. And they do so
without caring if he is the only one even if