Introduction
The term nationalism is used to describe attitudes or actions that particular members of a nation have had concerning their national identity. National identity denotes members of shared ethnicity, origin or cultural ties, something that has been referred to as individual membership in a nation. Nationalism is constructed politically and socially. Alternatively, national identity is a resource in the hands of the people, and one does not need any action or attitude to be granted (Ozkirimli 164). As illustrated earlier in block 2, that is, xenophobia, ethnocentrism, intolerance, conformity, authoritarianism, prejudice, positive emotions, patriotism are some of the psychological accounts which have commonalities and differences as illustrated below in this paper.
Comparison
Similarities
The rise political parties worldwide evoke a lot of questions concerning the relationship between nationalism and national identity. Based on the discussed alternative approaches to national integrity and patriotism mentioned above, it can be argued from the dual process model of prejudice and ideology perspective. People tend to develop positive emotions into their right-wing authoritarianism authorities and submit to the Social dominant group based hierarchy present. Both accounts under the Dual process model of ideology and prejudice argue that nationalism is having a national attachment and sense of belonging to the nation. If one is an attachment to his country, he or she is likely to develop positive emotions and conform to its values. Take for example, when one is positively attached to his nation, he will not participate in terrorist activities in his country (Osborne 166). Another remarkable similarity between these alternative accounts is that both have a belief in superiority. People tend to have faith in the supremacy of an existing power of their countries, thus developing an attachment to homeland social norms.
Differences
Despite converging and agreeing at some point, these accounts possess some striking differences mainly based on theoretical distinctions. Not all people having a particular national identity have aspects of nationalism; in cases where we have national superiority, some form of authoritarianism arises. As a result, those supporting the regime develop a sense of positive emotions and become patriotic to the nation. On the other hand, those on the minority side are forced to create some form of pseudo-patriotism, and only conform to national interests when compelled.
Scholars have tried to outline and give out the actual comparison between nationalism and national identity. For instance, Davidov 89 established that there are two types of federal attachment that arises based on the significant psychological accounts. The first one is chauvinism (national superiority) While the second one is regarded as attachment aroused as a result of love for one’s nation and its symbols. The first one has been marked with people having a national identity as a result of Xenophobia, ethnocentrism, prejudice, and authoritarianism. The second one is marked with conformity, patriotism, and positive emotions. Therefore, these psychological accounts are only neutral when viewed from the national identity perspective and not nationalism.
Conclusion
In summary, nationalism and national identity are achieved through a combination of different theoretical approaches. They are established on constructivism and primordial acts as a building block of national distinctiveness. The work presented above illustrates national identity a major an entity for identification to where one belongs. Similarly, nationalism is a way an individual identifies him/herself by having an attachment to a given nation.
Works Cited
Davidov, Eldad. "Nationalism and constructive patriotism: A longitudinal test of comparability in 22 countries with the ISSP." International Journal of Public Opinion Research 23.1 (2010): 88-103.
Osborne, Danny, Petar Milojev, and Chris G. Sibley. "Authoritarianism and National Identity: Examining the Longitudinal Effects of SDO and RWA on Nationalism and Patriotism." Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2017): 146-196.
Ozkirimli, Umut. Theories of nationalism: A critical introduction. Springer (2017): 160-166.
