What is a nationalist state?

The question of "what is a nation" is first encountered in linguistics.

The word "nation" only appeared in Chinese social texts at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

The English nation (nation) is very different in semantics from the Chinese "nation". On many occasions

the Chinese word "nation" is often confused with the concepts of race and country. Race (ethnicity) is based on certain genetic characteristics (skin color, eye color, hair color, blood type, bones, etc.) that people have in their physical form. Signs, belonging to the categories of Anthropology and Biology. For example, the Dai, Zhuang, Yi, Han,

Tibetan, etc. are all races in the anthropological and biological sense. The usage of "nationality" in Chinese can refer to race in many situations, such as "Han nationality", "ethnic minority", etc. In the English-speaking environment, the distinction between

ethnicity and race is very clear, and ethnicity is used in a strict anthropological and biological sense

such as "black" and "white" , "Asian ethnicity", etc. And "nation" belongs to the categories of sociology, politics and history.

"Nation" is characterized by language, region, economic life, traditional culture and psychological quality

, such as the Chinese nation, the American nation, the Indian nation, the Iranian nation, and the Arab nation , Japanese nation

, German nation, etc. Ethnicity is clearly distinct from "race." A nation can include several

different races. For example, the Chinese nation has dozens of races. People of the same race can also belong to different ethnic groups. For example, the Han nationality belongs to the Chinese nation in China, and those who immigrated to the United States belong to the American nation.

In Chinese, "nation" and "country" are two completely different words.

However, the word nation in English contains both "country" and "nation"

It also emphasizes political characteristics. Such as The Nations of the Western Europe (Western European countries), The United Nations (United Nations).

Another example is nationwide, which refers to the whole country, not the entire nation.

National hymn refers to the national anthem, not the national hymn.

National park is a national park rather than a national park.

In the English word nation, the meaning of "country" is higher than that of "nation".

The semantic differences between Chinese and English lead to great deviations in the use of "nation".

Chinese tends to be understood as race, with stronger anthropological and biological meanings; while English is more

used in the sense of "country", highlighting the meaning of sociology and political science. This ambiguity will be more obvious in the concept of "nationalism".

Nation belongs to a certain historical category and is the product and

combination method of human society developing to a certain historical stage. When we talk about "nation" and define nation today, we actually provide a theoretical basis or explanation for ideas or theories such as nationalism. The need to conceptualize "nation" lies in the emergence of modern states in history. In other words, the country needs the concept of "nation" to determine its territory, population and sovereignty. Any social organization must have a defined domain, describing the boundaries of the organization, including

what kind of people are included, as well as the scope of power and power operations. Therefore, "nation" and "country" are closely related conceptually. Without the concept of "country", the concept of nation loses its historical origin and cannot be defined. Modern states require the concept of nation. Nation-states are political units that express a collective sense of self through shared values, history, and symbolic behavior. In this sense, a nation-state is a particular collective identity.

Here, we have two Chinese concepts of "nation": one is the "traditional concept of nation" in the sense of anthropology and biology

; the other is sociology and the "modern national concept" in the political sense. "Nationalism" can only be linked to the "modern concept of nation", otherwise it will fall into great confusion. For example, the concept of "Chinese nation" does not exist since ancient times, but only appeared in very modern social discourse. The Chinese nation does not refer to the Han nationality or any specific ethnic group, but includes all ethnic groups in the political unity of the People's Republic of China. It is impossible to define the "Chinese nation" by its blood origin,

language, religion, cultural traditions and folk customs.

Another more obvious example is the "American nation" as a modern nation. The formation of the American nation has nothing to do with any of the above-mentioned elements of the nation. It was directly produced by the United States of America and has only two hundred years of history. In such a short period of time, it is impossible to form

its own unique language, religion and cultural traditions. Moreover, as a country of immigrants, the United States has ethnic origins from almost all over the world, including the major ethnic groups in Europe. It has no history of formation from clans, tribes, tribes

to nations. .

Both "Chinese nation" and "American nation" do exist, but the specific definitions

are more complicated than other nations. Although it is difficult for us to use "traditional national concepts" to define them,

However, we can easily use "modern national concepts" to define them conveniently.

As the "nation" in "nationalism", it can only be a "modern national concept". As a concept that emerged in modern times, it can only be sociological and In a political sense. The "race" in "racialism"

(racialism) is related to the "traditional national concept". "Racism" and "nationalism" are two completely different words in English, and there is no "blood" relationship between them. Those who divide nationalism into "racial", "cultural" and "political" nationalism show absolute ignorance of "nationalism". "Nationalism" can only be "political" and cannot be anything else, regardless of whether it is "mature" or not.

2. "Nationalism" and "statism"

"Nationalism" and "statism" are two different terms in Chinese, but in English

is the same word (nationalism). Today, as a mature "nationalism",

cannot avoid the issue of "statism".

As mentioned earlier, the concept of nationalism is closely connected with the concept of modern country. In fact, nationalism is the "external feature" of national sovereignty. Nationalism is a political tool used by modern countries to protect and fight for national rights. Just like "sovereignty is the plural form of human rights"

"national rights" is the international expression of "the plural form of human rights". Observed within a country, democracy is a political tool for people to defend and protect human rights, and to use human rights to legally constitute sovereignty. Observed between countries and around the world, nationalism is also a political tool to defend and fight for national rights and deal with international relations issues.

Nationalism is the requirement that countries, regardless of their size, strength or weakness, should enjoy equal

political rights internationally. No country or nation is allowed to put its own interests above the rights of other countries or nations. Due to physical geography and political history, the actual interests of various countries or nations are different. Nationalism requires respecting this difference in interests and safeguarding the basic rights of each country or nation, such as the right to national survival and the right to national development. The reason why the word "nation" is added before "the right to survival"

and "the right to development" here is to distinguish it from the "right to survival" and "the right to development" in human rights. "The difference between concepts is to emphasize the external characteristics of national rights. The right to national survival and development

are national rights that nationalism strives for externally; while the right to survival and development are human rights that democracy

strives for internally.

"Nationalism" is the "alienation" of national interests into an excuse to seize power within sovereignty

Nationalism is inherently "elitist". It believes that in a country or nation, only a small number of elites understand and represent the interests of the entire nation. Accordingly, a small number of elites demand more political rights within the country or nation, and require the majority of other people to sacrifice and give up their political rights for the sake of national interests. , and obey them. The "national interests" of striving for ethnic equality internationally have been transformed into a political tool to suppress human rights domestically. The "elitist" nature of "statism" is bound to be anti-human rights and anti-democracy. "Internalizing" the external characteristics of sovereignty will inevitably lead to totalitarianism.

Mature "nationalism" has consistent internal and external political opinions. Externally, democracy requires respecting ethnic differences and striving for ethnic equality; internally, it requires respecting human rights and striving for democratic equality. Mature "nationalism" must be against elitism.

They should admit that national interests are by no means something that only a few elites can recognize and decide; national interests should be universally accepted by all citizens and decided through democratic procedures. The responsibility of those "foreseeers" or enlighteners of "national interests" is to disseminate their understanding to all the people and accept the test of all the people. .

"Nationalism" has two other "variants" in developing countries, one is "populism

ism", the other is "bureaucratic compradorism", "populism" ” refers to certain contents in traditional culture as the national interests; “bureaucratic compradorism” refers to certain contents in foreign culture as national interests. where the national interests lie. They all use the excuse of "national interests" to demand their

cultural rights and political power. In other words, "national interests" for these elites are nothing more than a language carrier of a certain kind of power and a way to compete for social resources.

The only difference is that under what circumstances they choose what kind of identity, which depends on

what kind of social resources they control and what kind of culture they possess. Hegemony and discourse hegemony. "

The difference between populism, "bureaucratic compradorism", "statism" and "nationalism" is

that they are all anti-democracy and anti-human rights elitism , will inevitably lead to totalitarianism.

Thankfully, "nationalism" and "nationalism" are two different words in Chinese.

Mature nationalism is to strictly define nationalism as "The external characteristics of sovereignty" are internally anti-elitism that pursues equality, rather than confusing it with elite "statism."

3. “Nationalism” and “Hegemonism”

Today, the antonym of “nationalism” is “hegemonism”. "Nationalism" has a history of evolution, but this evolution has always centered on the core content of nationalism "as an external characteristic of sovereignty."

In the 19th century, nationalism was born as "secular" and "opposed to theocracy and religious authority"

This is inseparable from the situation in Europe in the Middle Ages where theocratic and religious rights were higher than national sovereignty.

Before the emergence of modern states, kings in various European countries were "coronated" by the pope. After the French Revolution, the birth of the modern nation-state was to restore the "supreme power" of national sovereignty from divine power. Although Napoleon restored the monarchy, and although he also asked the Pope to "coronate" him, Napoleon wore casual clothes to greet the Pope instead of holding a formal welcoming ceremony

< p>Formula. During the ceremony, Napoleon did not let the Pope put the crown on his head, but took the crown and put it on himself. In the past, people often regarded this as Napoleon's arrogant and arrogant behavior, without

noting the symbolic meaning of it - in modern countries, sovereignty is the highest power, which is absolutely not allowed

Religious and divine rights are above sovereignty, even if it is a modern state sovereignty under a constitutional monarchy.

Before and after World War II, the antonym of "nationalism" was "colonialism." The colonial movement for "national independence" and "national self-determination" was to fight for the "supreme power" of national sovereignty and to oppose the power of the colonial "sovereign country" , overriding the sovereignty of its own country.

Today, the religious authority, theocracy and colonial suzerainty that override sovereignty have all been overturned.

The tasks of "national independence" and "national self-determination" have been basically completed. However, "hegemonism" still exists internationally. The so-called "hegemonism" means that a few countries rely on their own strength to put a country's national interests and national interests above the interests of other countries or nations and interfere in the process. The sovereignty of other countries infringes upon the national rights of other countries.

As the opposite of "hegemonism", "nationalism" emphasizes the equality of national sovereignty and emphasizes that all countries, regardless of their size, strength or weakness, enjoy equal international political power. Emphasis on respecting national interests under the protection of national sovereignty

and the differences in national interests, emphasizing that all countries or nations in the international community

enjoy equal rights to national survival and national development right.

"Hegemonism" refers to "elitism" and "totalitarianism" among countries or nations. Elite

Internally, elitism pursues the pursuit of a small number of elites to enjoy more political rights or privileges than other members of society

and uses this to dominate other members of society. Externally, elitism believes that a small number of developed countries should enjoy more international political rights and the right to dominate international affairs and dominate other developing countries. Contrary to elitism, mature nationalism pursues equality both internally and externally.

Internally, we regard

equal human rights and democratic systems as the basis of national interests, and externally we pursue

equality among countries or ethnic groups rather than seeking hegemony.

In fact, as long as there are countries in the world, nationalism will definitely exist.

With the increase of international exchanges, the issue of democracy will not fade away, but will become more prominent. Nationalism

is a political tool for safeguarding national rights internationally, and mutual respect for national rights is the key to peaceful coexistence between countries and peaceful development of the world in the future. cornerstone.

Four. "Nationalism" and "National Separatism"

Mature nationalism cannot avoid the "traditional concept of nation" in the anthropological and biological sense

Read". In this regard, ethnic (racial) equality and ethnic (racial) regional autonomy are reasonable solutions

.

The so-called ethnic (racial) equality means that within the scope of national sovereignty in the modern concept of nation

Human rights do not distinguish between races, and all ethnic groups under the traditional concept enjoy equal political rights. , enjoy democratic politics equally. Do not engage in racial oppression or racial discrimination.

The so-called ethnic (racial) regional autonomy refers to when the traditional concept of ethnic groups exists in a relatively stable geographical area

that is, when there are ethnic minority (racial) concentrated areas. , implement political

regional autonomy. The power of regional autonomy is actually “governing power” that is lower than “sovereignty”. "National (racial) regional autonomy" is different from the movement for "national self-determination". Behind them, one

is the "traditional national concept", the other is the "modern national concept", the other is "governance", and the other

is "sovereignty". "Modern national concept" corresponds to "sovereignty", and "traditional national concept" corresponds to "governance".

Although the "modern concept of nation" in the sociological and political sense is a modern product

, for a multi-ethnic (racial) country with a long history like China, , it is impossible not to

involve the "traditional concept of nation" in the anthropological and biological sense. The policy of ethnic (racial) equality and

ethnic (racial) regional autonomy respects the reality of "traditional ethnic concepts" and is a necessary condition for the stability of national

sovereignty.

Ethnic separatism is to "externalize" the "traditional national concept" in the anthropological and biological sense, trying to find a "sovereign exterior" for the "traditional national concept" feature". National separatism

ism is to use the "traditional national concept" in the anthropological and biological sense to split the "modern national concept" in the sociological and political sense.

Two different concepts of "nation" cannot be confused. One-sided emphasis on "traditional national concepts" will inevitably lead to national division and social unrest. In turn, the decline of national sovereignty will inevitably lead to the rise of traditional national concepts and national divisions. Ethnic separatism and racism have one thing in common, which is the use of "traditional national concepts." The only difference is their pursuit of political interests.

Racism pursues racial oppression and racial discrimination. Racism is actually elitist. It regards one's own nation (race) as superior to other nations (races) and treats one's own nation (race) as

racial) interests override the interests of other ethnic groups (racial). Opposing racism

should not resort to ethnic separatism, but should be solved through ethnic (racial) equality and ethnic (

racial) regional autonomy. It must be solved by pursuing equality.

China is one of the countries with the best policies for ethnic (racial) equality and ethnic (racial) regional autonomy

Mature nationalism must safeguard this ethnic policy, not Support ethnic division and racial discrimination.