POSC 2200 – Nationalism, POSC 2200 – Nationalism, Nation States and Foreign Nation States and Foreign

PolicyPolicy

Russell Alan WilliamsRussell Alan Williams

Department of Political ScienceDepartment of Political Science

Unit Three: Unit Three: Nationalism, Nation States and Nationalism, Nation States and Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

““Nationalism and States in the International SystemNationalism and States in the International System””

Required Reading:Required Reading: Globalization of World PoliticsGlobalization of World Politics, , Chapter 24.Chapter 24. Strobe Talbott, Strobe Talbott, ““Self-Determination in an Interdependent WorlSelf-Determination in an Interdependent Worl

d,d,”” Foreign PolicyForeign Policy, No. 118 (Spring, 2000), pp. 152-163. , No. 118 (Spring, 2000), pp. 152-163. (Available through e-journals, or from the instructor.)(Available through e-journals, or from the instructor.)

Outline:Outline: Introduction Introduction NationalismNationalism

CivicCivic EthnicEthnic

Self Determination and Sovereignty in the 20Self Determination and Sovereignty in the 20thth Century Century For Next Time . . . .For Next Time . . . .

1) Introduction:1) Introduction:

Unit goal: Unit goal: Explore Explore ““nationalismnationalism””, , ““nation-statesnation-states”” and the challenges of and the challenges of ““self determinationself determination”” for for modern politicsmodern politics

ProblemProblem: Concepts and their implications poorly : Concepts and their implications poorly understood, and yet . . . development of understood, and yet . . . development of ““nation-nation-statesstates”” is the largest cause of modern warfare is the largest cause of modern warfare

Terminology Problem: Terminology Problem: ““NationNation”” and and ““StateState”” used used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing . . . .interchangeably, but they are not the same thing . . . .

Conceptual problem: Conceptual problem: ““SovereigntySovereignty”” versus versus ““self-self-determinationdetermination”” . . . . . . . .

Foreign policy problem . . . .Foreign policy problem . . . .

2) Nationalism – a brief history:2) Nationalism – a brief history:

““Conventional accountConventional account””:: Modern states grew from Modern states grew from ““nationsnations””

which fought for which fought for ““sovereigntysovereignty”” and and ““self determinationself determination””

==““nation-statesnation-states”” became basis of became basis of all political organizationall political organization

1.1. Globalization now challenges Globalization now challenges ““nations-statesnations-states””

Question: WhatQuestion: What’’s wrong with this story?s wrong with this story?

2) Nationalism – a brief history:2) Nationalism – a brief history:

WhatWhat’’s wrong with this story?s wrong with this story?

Nationalism is a modern ideology?Nationalism is a modern ideology?

Nationalism has spread at the same time as Nationalism has spread at the same time as globalization?globalization?

Most states are not Most states are not ““nation-statesnation-states”” in this sense – in this sense – they often have multiple they often have multiple ““nationsnations””??

This story has had dangerous implication This story has had dangerous implication War!War!

Key Concepts:Key Concepts:

““StateState””: : The institutions of government and sovereign authority The institutions of government and sovereign authority over a over a ““countrycountry”” or territory. or territory.

““NationNation””: A group of people who recognize each other as having a : A group of people who recognize each other as having a shared identity and normally a defined territory, or shared identity and normally a defined territory, or ““homelandhomeland””..

““NationalismNationalism””: The belief that the world is organized into : The belief that the world is organized into ““nationsnations”” based on ethnic and cultural identities – forms the basis of political based on ethnic and cultural identities – forms the basis of political identity.identity.

Generates demands for national Generates demands for national ““self determinationself determination”” and and statehoodstatehood

Strong sense of “primordialism” and Strong sense of “primordialism” and ““founding mythsfounding myths””

““Nation-stateNation-state””: A state which claims legitimacy based on : A state which claims legitimacy based on representing the sovereign authority of a particular nation – from a representing the sovereign authority of a particular nation – from a ““nationalismnationalism”” perspective perspective

However, most However, most ““nation-statesnation-states”” do not really fit the definition do not really fit the definition

In practical terms nationalism comes in different forms In practical terms nationalism comes in different forms – reflects the modern invention of nationalism– reflects the modern invention of nationalism

a) a) ““Civic NationalismCivic Nationalism””: A form of nationalism in : A form of nationalism in which identity is based on belonging to an existing which identity is based on belonging to an existing state – national identity is indistinguishable from state – national identity is indistinguishable from citizenship.citizenship.

E.g.E.g. United StatesUnited States

CanadaCanada

France (!)France (!)

France: Often used as an illustration of a modern France: Often used as an illustration of a modern ““nation-statnation-statee””, but . . . ., but . . . .

France was not always the France was not always the ““nationnation”” it is today. Until the it is today. Until the existence of the modern existence of the modern ““FrenchFrench”” state and the promotion of state and the promotion of French nationhood as a civic culture – France was a multi-French nationhood as a civic culture – France was a multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious monarchy ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious monarchy

In practical terms nationalism comes in different forms In practical terms nationalism comes in different forms – reflects the modern invention of nationalism– reflects the modern invention of nationalism

b) b) ““Ethnic NationalismEthnic Nationalism””: A form of nationalism in : A form of nationalism in which people articulate a national identity separate which people articulate a national identity separate from, or prior to, their citizenship in a particular from, or prior to, their citizenship in a particular state – often the key aspect of ethnic nationalism is state – often the key aspect of ethnic nationalism is the demand for statehood.the demand for statehood.

E.g. E.g. Eastern Europe and the BalkansEastern Europe and the Balkans

Eastern Europe, before and after WWI:Eastern Europe, before and after WWI:

New states were created in accordance with New states were created in accordance with ““ethnic ethnic nationalismnationalism”” and and ““self determinationself determination””

Meanwhile . . . in the middle east:Meanwhile . . . in the middle east:

New states were New states were notnot created in accordance with created in accordance with ““ethnic ethnic nationalismnationalism”” and and ““self determinationself determination””

Meanwhile . . . in the middle east:Meanwhile . . . in the middle east:

Uh oh . . . What about the Uh oh . . . What about the ““KurdsKurds””?? An ethnic An ethnic ““nationnation””, but no state?, but no state? Continuing Continuing ““nationalismnationalism”” and demand for and demand for ““self self

determinationdetermination”” = conflict with sovereign states created after = conflict with sovereign states created after WWI which claim the territory of WWI which claim the territory of ““KurdistanKurdistan””

E.g. Iraq and TurkeyE.g. Iraq and Turkey’’s s ““sovereigntysovereignty”” is in direct contradiction is in direct contradiction with the Kurdwith the Kurd’’s s ““self determinationself determination””

Meanwhile . . . in Africa:Meanwhile . . . in Africa:

Uh oh . . . What about Sudan?Uh oh . . . What about Sudan?

Again "Again "sovereigntysovereignty”” is in direct contradiction with is in direct contradiction with ““self self determinationdetermination”” and Sudan has an interest in the status quo . . . and Sudan has an interest in the status quo . . . ..

Key point:Key point:

““Ethnic nationalismEthnic nationalism”” is often seen as the basis of is often seen as the basis of ““self determinationself determination””, but there are more , but there are more ““ethnic ethnic nationsnations”” than states . . . . than states . . . . Source of longstanding, and irreconcilable civil warsSource of longstanding, and irreconcilable civil wars

E.g. UN system protects the rights of existing E.g. UN system protects the rights of existing sovereign states, sovereign states, notnot those seeking self those seeking self determinationdetermination

3) 3) Self Determination & Sovereignty Self Determination & Sovereignty in the 20in the 20thth Century Century

System of statehood created after World War I System of statehood created after World War I has created many of the problems that has created many of the problems that dominate international headlinesdominate international headlines1) Failed states 1) Failed states

2) Humanitarian crises2) Humanitarian crises

3) Non-state actors – terrorism, crime, cross 3) Non-state actors – terrorism, crime, cross border violence facilitated by ungovernable border violence facilitated by ungovernable regionsregions

1) 1) ““Failed statesFailed states””: : A state where the government has A state where the government has ceased to effectively govern its territory – it can no ceased to effectively govern its territory – it can no longer provide services or basic order – normally longer provide services or basic order – normally as a result of persistent internal conflict. as a result of persistent internal conflict.

SomaliaSomalia SudanSudan AfghanistanAfghanistan RwandaRwanda YugoslaviaYugoslavia

Yugoslavia:Yugoslavia:

Yugoslavia:Yugoslavia:

Ethnic nationalists claimed same territory as Ethnic nationalists claimed same territory as part of their state:part of their state:

System of System of ““self determinationself determination”” & & ““sovereigntsovereigntyy””: :

Creates incentives for:Creates incentives for: ““Ethnic cleansingEthnic cleansing”” ““GenocideGenocide””

Creates unclear rules for international Creates unclear rules for international institutions and foreign policy – institutions and foreign policy – pressure is to respect the sovereign pressure is to respect the sovereign status of the existing statestatus of the existing state

Yugoslavia:Yugoslavia:Argument: part of the problem Argument: part of the problem

with state failure is that with state failure is that international initiations and international initiations and foreign powers insist on keeping foreign powers insist on keeping unworkable states together . . . .unworkable states together . . . .

However: However: Kosovo War 1998-1999Kosovo War 1998-1999::

=Erosion of =Erosion of ““Westphalian Westphalian sovereigntysovereignty””??

3) 3) Self Determination & Sovereignty Self Determination & Sovereignty in the 20in the 20thth Century Century

2) Humanitarian crises: Many 2) Humanitarian crises: Many ““failedfailed”” or or weak states suffer humanitarian weak states suffer humanitarian problems.problems. E.g. Somalia (UNOSOM II – 1993-E.g. Somalia (UNOSOM II – 1993-

1995) - UN mission was not accepted 1995) - UN mission was not accepted by local by local ““authoritiesauthorities”” – did not go – did not go well . . . .well . . . .

Emerging principle of Emerging principle of ““humanitarian humanitarian interventionintervention””: Sovereignty of a state : Sovereignty of a state incapable of dealing with a humanitarian incapable of dealing with a humanitarian crisis need not be respected.crisis need not be respected.

3) 3) Self Determination & Sovereignty Self Determination & Sovereignty in the 20in the 20thth Century Century

3) Non-state actors in contested border 3) Non-state actors in contested border regions . . . .regions . . . .

Ethnic nationalist secessionist Ethnic nationalist secessionist movements often create movements often create ungovernable regions, generating ungovernable regions, generating cross border crime, trafficking, cross border crime, trafficking, terrorism . . .terrorism . . .

E.g. E.g. Pushstun RegionPushstun Region

KashmirKashmir

Chechnya Chechnya

Strobe Talbott and the Challenges of Strobe Talbott and the Challenges of ““Self DeterminationSelf Determination””::

Former U.S. Deputy Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of StateSecretary of State

ArgumentArgument: Solution to ethnic nationalism and secessionism is : Solution to ethnic nationalism and secessionism is not to create new states – it is too difficult – not to create new states – it is too difficult – reflects official reflects official policy of all major states and the U.N.policy of all major states and the U.N.

Solution:Solution: More democracy and globalization(!) More democracy and globalization(!) Removes reasons for ethnic nationalism . . . .Removes reasons for ethnic nationalism . . . . Increases ability of states to accommodate national Increases ability of states to accommodate national

minoritiesminorities

5) For Next Time . . .5) For Next Time . . .

Unit Three: Unit Three: Nationalism, Nation States and Foreign Nationalism, Nation States and Foreign PolicyPolicy

““States as Actors – Foreign PolicyStates as Actors – Foreign Policy””

Required Reading:Required Reading: Robert Jervis, Robert Jervis, ““Hypotheses on Misperception,Hypotheses on Misperception,”” World World

PoliticsPolitics, 20 (3), (April 1968), Pp. 454-479. (Available , 20 (3), (April 1968), Pp. 454-479. (Available through e-journals, or as an excerpt from the through e-journals, or as an excerpt from the

instructor.)instructor.)