Dave and Julien discuss the messy US Tariff court rulings, the Council blocking Spanish regional languages, Orban's Budapest pride ban, and Von der Leyen's Aachen speech
I usually say that the difference between patriotism and nationalism comes down to levels of identification.
For example, you can be a “local patriot”. Let’s say you live in London and identify as a citizen of London. At the same time, you understand that London doesn’t have national sovereignty or the authority to make all decisions unilaterally, especially when considering the needs of the broader UK or Europe, or even globally.
You can also be a global patriot, meaning you view yourself as a citizen of the world. But being a “local nationalist” or even a global nationalist would be impossible in practice because nationalism is about exclusive loyalty and solidarity toward a specific nation, regardless of other levels of governance and cooperation.
While nationalism can unite people within a nation, it also divides and discriminates against people across nations. No nationalism, regardless of whether it is more civic or not, can create global-level solidarity, empathy, and unity.
On the other hand, civic patriotism fosters a universal and cosmopolitan worldview in which people are equal citizens, both locally and globally, with the same rights, freedoms, and responsibilities, regardless of their location.
It’s essential to recall that for example Jürgen Habermas, renowned for his writings on “constitutional patriotism,” as concerning European integration. Habermas has argued that people should show civic commitments and loyalty to universal values across all levels from local, national, European, and even global level
Thanks for the identity focused discussion.
I usually say that the difference between patriotism and nationalism comes down to levels of identification.
For example, you can be a “local patriot”. Let’s say you live in London and identify as a citizen of London. At the same time, you understand that London doesn’t have national sovereignty or the authority to make all decisions unilaterally, especially when considering the needs of the broader UK or Europe, or even globally.
You can also be a global patriot, meaning you view yourself as a citizen of the world. But being a “local nationalist” or even a global nationalist would be impossible in practice because nationalism is about exclusive loyalty and solidarity toward a specific nation, regardless of other levels of governance and cooperation.
While nationalism can unite people within a nation, it also divides and discriminates against people across nations. No nationalism, regardless of whether it is more civic or not, can create global-level solidarity, empathy, and unity.
On the other hand, civic patriotism fosters a universal and cosmopolitan worldview in which people are equal citizens, both locally and globally, with the same rights, freedoms, and responsibilities, regardless of their location.
It’s essential to recall that for example Jürgen Habermas, renowned for his writings on “constitutional patriotism,” as concerning European integration. Habermas has argued that people should show civic commitments and loyalty to universal values across all levels from local, national, European, and even global level