Nationalism

We have had discussions here about nationalism versus internationalism throughout the whole nineteen years. Not once have any of us resorted to the speaker's trick of starting with "Webster's defines..." I have used that idea on the topic of racism, which has at least three distinct definitions that are treated as "oh, it's all the same thing" in political conversation these days.

The link in Point 4 in the post below this one has something similar in its discussion of nationalism versus globalization. It's a good reminder that nationalism has at least three distinct meanings, which are not interchangeable though are often treated as such by those who fear it. They regard all expressions of nationalism to essentially be the first definition.  The other two matter.

1. Devotion, especially as excessive or undiscriminating devotion, to the interests of culture of a particular nation-state.  

2. The belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals.  

3. The belief that a particular cultural or ethnic group constitutes a distinct people deserving of political self-determination.