History Extra podcast Nationalism: everything you wanted to know
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Aug 23, 2025 John Hutchinson, an academic and author specializing in nationalism, delves into the fascinating evolution of the nation-state concept. He discusses how nationalism thrives in crises, revealing its complexities beyond predominantly right-wing narratives. The podcast explores the fine line between nationalism and patriotism, alongside the interplay between nationalism and socialism. Hutchinson also highlights how remembrance rituals shape national identity and the paradox of rising nationalism in a fragmented, globalized world.
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Core Components Of Nationalism
- Nationalism is an ideology that divides the world into nations seeking political freedom, territorial defence, and cultural distinctiveness.
- Its ideological emergence is roughly 18th century while national sentiment traces further back.
Pre-Modern National Sentiment Exists
- Forms of national feeling existed before modern nationalism, visible in medieval pleas like Scotland's 14th-century declaration to the Pope.
- But the modern focus on citizenship and nationhood is a later development tied to state formation.
Cultural Vs Political Nationalism
- Cultural nationalism treats the nation as a moral community with distinct customs, while political nationalism focuses on citizenship and state rights.
- These strands can conflict, producing different nationalist projects in places like India and Ireland.
