Introduction to Nationalism
By Arthur E. LeBouthillier
We hear much about nationalism in the news and even from some in the
White movement. Usually, nationalism is maligned as a bad thing leading
to disintegration and mass violence. To the media, it is the stability-threatening
force that causes governments to fall. To those in the White movement,
it is the force that causes White brothers to fight each other. However,
a better understanding of nationalism is necessary to appreciate its true
role in world politics and how it relates to our own movement.
There are many myths about what nationalism is. For many, nationalism
only evidences itself as warfare between ethnic groups or as the force
that destabilizes multi-ethnic countries. However, this view misses a much
more important fact about nationalism: that it is something that affects
people's everyday actions in many positive ways while never causing them
to engage in acts of violence. Another myth about nationalism is that it
is something fundamentally different from racism. In fact, the basis of
nationalism can be one or more of several influences such as religion,
race, language or other factors.
Nationalism
Nationalism is a complex phenomenon that is not always immediately easy
to grasp. It is a whole ideological viewpoint that affects all aspects
of one's every day political, cultural, economic and social life. As Anthony
D. Smith defines it in Nationalism in the Twentieth Century, it is "...the
ideological movement for the attainment and maintenance of autonomy, cohesion,
and individuality for a social group, some of whose members conceive it
to be an actual or potential nation." In accordance with this definition,
it can be seen that virtually any activity taken on behalf of the nation
(a social group) could be considered a "nationalistic act." Such
things as writing poetry to spread the ideals of the nation, learning the
historical dances of that nation, speaking in the historical language of
that people, or engaging in politics on behalf of the nation's interests
are all "nationalistic acts." In extreme cases, nationalism does
evidence itself as ethnic warfare when two or more ethnic groups compete
at the expense of each other's interests. According to John Breuilly in
Nationalism and the State:
- A nationalist argument is a political doctrine built upon three basic
assertions:
- There exists a nation with an explicit and peculiar character
- The interests and values of this nation take priority over all other
interests and values.
- The nation must be as independent as possible. This usually requires
at least attainment of political sovereignty. [Breuilly, 1982. p 3]
In accordance with the above definitions, one can see that our own movement
to ensure the survival of the White race is a nationalist movement. This
is even more strikingly evident when one considers Aryan Nation's own slogan:
"Your race is your nation." This slogan is an obvious statement
linking racial and nationalistic arguments and ideals.
The State
Nationalists make explicit distinctions between the nation, which is
a social group, and the State, which is a government that rules over one
or more nations. Therefore, nationalists often state that nationalism is
love of one's people, whereby patriotism is love of the State. It is important
to understand this difference between nationalism and patriotism since
most arguments against nationalism are patriotic attempts to ensure the
survival of a particular State.
As a political institution, the State is an entity with its own interests.
States derive their power from the number of people whom they are able
to tax and control through laws and by force. Because of this, there is
a conflict of interests between the State and the nation. Often, States
find it necessary to suppress nationalistic feelings and disenfranchise
national groups in order to secure their dominance. Where several ethnic
groups exist in a single State, the State must compromise one group's national
interests in order to satisfy the desires of minority groups or to assure
standing in the eyes of other nations or States of the world. Often, minority
groups are able to assume control of the State apparatus and thus make
it an instrument of their own ends. To the nationalist, often the only
viable State is one that is expressly structure to protect and promote
his own nation above all others; therefore, multi-ethnic States are seen
as illegitimate.
The Nation
The key concept in understanding nationalism is knowing the meaning
of the word nation. Contrary to the everyday use of the word nation, which
often includes the many different ethnic groups existing in a certain State,
the nationalist definition of nation is those people who believe they belong
together because they are a social group bound by blood, language, culture,
religion or other factors. As Walker Conner says, "The essence of
the nation is a psychological bond that joins a people and differentiates
it, in the subconscious convictions of its members, from all non-members
in a most vital way" [Conner, 1994. p 197]. There are many such bonds,
but perhaps the strongest national identity is that founded on race (lineage
or bloodline). "In sharpest contrast with most academic analysts of
nationalism, those who have successfully mobilized nations have understood
that at the core of ethnopsychology is the sense of shared blood, and they
have not hesitated to appeal to it" [Conner, p 197]. Other bases of
ethnic identity include many other features such as language, folkways,
historical viewpoints and other characteristics.
The White Nationalist Perspective
With the above understanding of nations and States, we Whites can examine
our own situation better. Phrasing our position in terms of the basic nationalist
arguments, one can state that we Whites are a nation, that the interests
and values of that nation take priority over all others and that we must
be as independent as possible. Therefore, we must embark on a program leading
towards greater sovereignty and security for our nation. We must not let
ANY government impose policies and programs that are harmful to our nation's
interests.
We must recognize that the U.S. Government, as a State, has subverted
the interests of our nation and that unless measures are taken to bolster
our nation, all that we hold as dear will be destroyed.
Conclusion
Nationalism is a social movement by a people seeking the maintenance
of their group. The key element in nationalism is the nation, a social
group of those people who believe that they belong together because of
common characteristics and interests. By putting the interests of their
social group ahead of all other interests, they are able to ensure its
survival. Because they put the interests of their people first, nations
are often in conflict with the States in which they reside. This most often
results in a desire for political sovereignty by nations. The nationalist
model applies to the White movement in North America. With a better understanding
of nationalism, one can learn to utilize the tactics of other
nationalist movements around the world.
References
Breuilly, John. 1982. Nationalism and the State. ISBN 0-312-56005-2.
Conner, Walker. 1994. "Beyond Reason: The Nature of the Ethnonational
Bond." in Ethnonationalism: The Quest for Understanding. Princeton
University Press. ISBN 0-691-02563-0.
Smith, Anthony D. 1979. Nationalism in the Twentieth Century. ISBN
0-8147-7803-8.
