How the World Sees England
- Thread starter Leo
- Start date
droid
Well-known member
Prior to the nation we had tribalism, religion & coercion - and we no doubt will again.
But the fact is, once a group reaches a certain size, or once some kind of democratic or representative system comes into play, you need to manufacture consent and quell dissent. Nationalism has been one of the most effective ways to do this. Examples abound.
craner
Beast of Burden
Nationalism in Europe is rampant. But on a small scale, ironically encouraged by the EU. They have funded micronationalisms, for example Wales, Scotland, Catalonia, Venice, to undermine the Nation State, and build the European project. It's a mad concept that simply encourages more recidivism, backward thinking and self-destrucive politics. Wales is a prime example. The Welsh cultural and political elites have built on the ridiculous Welsh Language Act, forcing state school kids to study the Welsh language up to the age of 16, rather than something useful like German, and all public sector bodies to publish in Welsh and English with no extra funds for translation and material publication (everything duplicated in ink on paper sent out with envelopes which about 90% of the population ignore and throw away because they don't speak or read Welsh).
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craner
Beast of Burden
And it encourages the worst sentiments, for example the Scottish argument was loudly nationalist, but was actually based on the idea that they would be absorbed by the benevolent EU structure and gorge on North Sea oil, but as both of these fantasies have collapsed the SNP have clung onto the chimera of left wing nationalism. Which may work for them, because the left Scots are not going to vote for Corbyn, but it's not a pretty outcome either way
vimothy
yurp
If you look at war in the 21st century, it's increasingly being fought by international coalitions and non-state transnational organisations (such as ISIS). It's not 'about' fostering nationhood, or validating the Nation State - it doesn't necessarily even feature two states fighting one another.
