Dr John Mohan Razu
Professor of Social Ethics
Let me begin this short piece with a quote of Albert Einstein: “Nationalism, in my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic nationalism for militarism and aggression.” In the name of for example making America great again has propelled the white supremacists, far-right ideological followers, and skewed cultural adherents literally take ‘nationalism’ and equate with fanaticism vis-à-vis ‘patriotism’. Loving and respecting a country will have to be found within rationality, should never cross its borders becoming emotional.
Far-right leaders across the world use their platforms to eulogise the voters or population pushing them the highest pitch of pointing to the enemies within and outside to such ways that hits their emotions leading to committing of their lives for the sake of irrational conception of ‘nationalism’, not the nation. ‘Nationalism” is a skewed and nebulous concept, like an ameba – having no colour and shape. It keeps changing as the regulator keeps turning the gears. For the politicians it is using ‘nationalism’ as a trump card at the time of elections or wars/conflicts.
The requirement for this is an imagined enemy with which one can all the time enter into shadow-boxing. In addition, ‘nationalism’ in order to function and to the optimum and to get the desired results operates on binaries. I Vs You, We Vs They – a construction that point to the enemy elevating the emotional attachment to the country he/she loves and the country Uhe/she hates. This is why binaries are being pushed to the extremes by the far-right leaders and thus uses for their power games and political advantage. When elections get closer the politicians skewed ‘nationalism’ as a key arousing emotions and hatred.
India uses Pakistan and vice versa, Israel uses all the nations surrounding it as enemies, America and most countries in Europe view Iran as the core of ‘terror’ and so be cautious, in their views the Christian countries and also Hindu fundamentalists look at the Muslims with suspicion leading to Islamophobia. The war with Iran by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu undergirds the very fabric of all these. In this construction patriotism and nationalism gets mixed. There is a thin line separating these two—one should be cautio-pop us of it while dealing with these two terms. Wrong or mis-understanding of it thus leads to fanatism.
In a world of skewed interpretations of the notion of nationalism, we keep viewing posts that have military service hiatus, the K-pop boy band, comeback titled Arirang of BTS with a new album, fans are waiting for their world tour with a kick-off concert, to be held in South Korea’s Gwanghwamun Square this month. Why and for what the organisers choose the venue and what does Arirang mean? Arirang is basically a folk song, of which, there are multiple variations, themed on romantic longing and reunion, linked to Korean nationalism as a cultural sentiment rather than a territorial or geopolitical stand.
According to UNESCO there are about 3,600 variations of 60 different versions of the song, and these are composed of collective contributions of ordinary Korean over decades. More than ten years ago, South Korea applied to UNESCO to register Arirang as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and a couple of years later, North Korea did the same. The BTS in its global tour chose to align with Arirang as their theme. It indicates that cultural identity is is precious and is definite of evoking positive emotional response. Culture is so precious to humans like how to water is so precious for the fishes. Invoking that spirit amongst millions and billions in cultural forms has more authenticity and effectiveness.
When cultural ethos is attacked by pointing to the ways we eat, dress, speak English, customary practices and habits, belief systems and so on and measuring from something with yardsticks leads to cultural invasion is nothing but damning. Likewise, branding others with an arrogance of assuming that theirs is the best and in the process humiliating or downgrading should be condemned. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, patriotic songs and national anthem though banned but enthuse everyone including the Japanese as a medium of Korean culture.
Let me bring a quote that “Cultural pride, appreciation, respect, and celebration of one’s cultural heritage and identity. This term embodies the positive feelings individuals or groups have towards their traditions, values, and history fostering a sense of belonging and community. In many instances, cultural pride is repressed through art, literature, music, and other forms of creative expression that highlight unique cultural experiences.” Language is part of culture. This is why Tamils rise up when Hindi is imposed by the RSS-BJP.
Though the Hindi fanatics know well that Tamil is one of the few ancient languages having its rich heritage and cultural moorings. To understand a particular history of people and their locales/regions language plays one of the important areas that enables people could understand better. Hence, we need to get back always to civilizations such as Korean, Persians, Chinese and others that have cruised through thousands of years maturing in all ambits of culture. In that I would like bring-in the Persian culture that posits maturity, dignity and tolerance.
Those nations that have confluence of cultures keep branding Iran in such low levels. They could go to such levels as the ‘sponsor of terror’ and ‘Mother of all evils’ and so on. The truth lies that Iran did not go first attacking Israel and US vassal state, on the contrary was open to negotiations and dialogue. In such a context, in what ways nationalism is connected to culture and in what ways it is different? Civilisational and cultural pride reflects shared heritage and posits shaped and matured and dignified the society’s overall progress and growth. They exposit tolerance and co-existence with the strangers and outsiders with dignity and honour.
In recent times a term ‘cultural nationalism’ dominates within the political and sociological domains. When nationalism is enjoined to a nation aligning with territorial boundaries that are designated by political authorities and then woven to the ‘dominant culture then it becomes is ‘cultural nationalism’ which RSS subscribes and deeply wedded to. It refers to ideas and practices that relate to the intended revival of a purported national community’ culture.
At the same time ‘cultural nationalism’ is strongly woven to the BJP’s political ideology, which is crucial part of RSS. On this Eric Taylor Woods of University of Leeds candidly explains that “Cultural nationalism generally refers to ideas and practices that relate to the intended revival of a purported national community’s culture. If political nationalism is focused on the achievement of political autonomy, cultural nationalism is focused on the cultivation of a nation.”
And so, nationalism is such a slippery ever-changing category. In such a context, one should be clear on the question of nationalism and carefully observe who is using it and for what purpose. In the given global order, it is important that one should transcend from narrow patriotism, nationalism, religion, culturalism, and even cultural nationalism. If we are serious about multi-cultural and co-habitation, then we need to shun those who have embraced cultural and political nationalism. The constructs that the twisted far-right culturalists and politicians employ should be contested with counter cultural and political narratives.
