Unit 9 - Ideology

Thinking about the Nation State What is a state? What distinguishes it from other institutions, like the Boy Scouts?

Thinking about the Nation State What is a state? Max Weber – The institutions within a specified geographic territory which have a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. What does “legitimate” mean?

Thinking about the Nation State What is a Nation? What distinguishes one nation from another?

Thinking about the Nation State What is a Nation? What distinguishes one nation from another? Shared Characteristics DietOrigin (land)Language RacePerceptionReligion EthnicityFamily patternCulture DressSense of spaceHistory Together these traits make up a “nation.” One is born into a nation, a sense of blood connection

Thinking about the Nation State Nations –Groups of people with shared characteristics States –Bounded institutions with monopoly on force. Nation states –States whose boundaries roughly correspond with the location of the dominant nation Stateless nations –Nations that are not dominant in any given state. Is America a nation state?

Importance of Nationalism Powerful unifying ethos –Can provide sense of identity, belonging –Can motivate selfless sacrifice –The French demonstrated its power first Patriotism – Love of one’s nation, a belief that one’s country is worthy of loyalty. Chauvinism – Belief in the superiority of one’s nation over others.

Options to deal with Nationalist Minorities Assimilation –US on its good days – 3 generation rule Autonomy –Quebec, US Indian Reservations, Kosovo Independence –East Timor, Former Yugoslav states, Eritrea Irredentism –Hong Kong, Macedonia, Kashmir Ethnic cleansing –Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq Genocide –Sudan, Rwanda

The problem of Ethnic/Religious War Why do communities that once coexisted slide into fratricidal violence? Why do others continue to get along despite identical differences?

The problem of Ethnic/Religious War Cleavages in society –All societies are divided into have and have-nots –Many societies do not have much movement from one class to another Rich Poor

The problem of Ethnic/Religious War Many societies are also divided by ethnic or religious cleavages Greens Tans

The problem of Ethnic/Religious War When these cleavages are cross- cutting, then the ethnic division is irrelevant to the power division These societies do not experience ethnic/religious conflict Rich Poor Greens Tans

The problem of Ethnic/Religious War When these cleavages are reinforcing, then the ethnic division is highly relevant to the power division These societies do experience ethnic/religious conflict Rich/Green Poor/Tan