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

Theme
Prof. Emanuel L. Paparella
Nationalism and Universalism
in Italian and European History
The theme of nationalism which
Ovi’s contributors have been
asked to address, has consumed
rivers of ink. It is a veritable
challenge to even attempt to
condense it in a few hundred
words but, for whatever their worth, here are a
few synthesizing thoughts. They have appeared
in greater detail in two books I have published
lately. One appeared in Ovi’s bookshop as an
e-book titled Europe beyond the Euro, and the
other is titled Europa: an Idea and a Journey.
The interested reader may wish to peruse them
for a more thorough treatment of this thorny
issue.
Let me begin with a sharp distinction
between nationalism interpreted as patriotism,
as loyalty to one’s country and respectful of the
patriotism of others for their country, and blind
destructive nationalism, characterized by an
overzealous almost fanatical regard for one’s
country alleged superiority and a misguided
dishonorable disregard for others’ countries
often considered inferior and resulting in
innumerable wars. Even a cursory look at
European history will confirm this statement.
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When nationalism is positive and constructive
it calls the individual to self-sacrifice, puts
loyalty high on its scale of values, it is proud
of the national language, the native soil, the
history and culture of the nation and the right
of self-governance and determination. This is
patriotism in tandem with nationalism. When
nationalism is negative however it becomes
exaggerated and blind to the fault of one’s
nation; it turns into a destructive force leading
to attempts by one nation to dominate other
nations. Perhaps the best example of this kind
of xenophobic destructive nationalism bent
only on mere military glory and prowess is
Nazi Germany, a nationalism gone crazy. More
than patriotism we ought to call this kind of