André Gerrits - Nationalism in Europe since 1945

Nationalism in Europe since 1945

Studies in European History Series

Studies in European History

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Nationalism in Europe
since 1945

Andr Gerrits

Andr Gerrits 2016

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First published 2016 by

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ISBN 9781137337870

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Introduction

The large majority of studies on nationalism either discuss nationalism in abstracto or identify it with its most extreme expressions only, in the form of hot nationalist conflicts and wars. This book on nationalism in Europe after the Second World War is both narrower and wider in scope. It talks about nationalism as a political phenomenon. Political nationalism is defined as political action plausibly guided by a distinct idea of the nation or a strong sense of national identity. This is largely irrespective of the form and content of political action. It can either be tolerant or intolerant, left wing or right wing, defensive or offensive, governmental or oppositional. Simultaneously, however, this study takes a wider scope than is usual in publications on nationalism, by linking nationalism with major processes of change in post-war Europe. Nationalism is discussed in relation to processes of European integration, to the development of the welfare state, to the theory and practice of communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe and to the rise of globalization and immigration after the Cold War. This approach has the advantage of situating and contextualizing nationalism in real-world changes. Nationalism never comes alone. But it has disadvantages too. Nationalist ambitions typically merge with other concerns, which gives nationalism its multifaceted nature and much of its popular and political allure, but which also makes it difficult to isolate from other beliefs, motives and justifications of political behaviour. Euroscepticism, anti-communism and support for or critique of the national welfare state or multiculturalism can be inspired by a range of political beliefs, besides nationalist ideas. Still, situating the national issue in the larger context of post-war European history reveals more about the actual role and relevance of political nationalism than limiting the discussion to only an abstract or theoretical level.