The Ubiquity and Persistence of Contemporary Nationalism

For a long time, nationalism was seen as a thing of the past. Many had predicted, and even hoped, that with an increasingly globalized world, nationalism would become obsolete. However, this has not been the case, and in fact, nationalism has become somewhat of a renewed force in the late twentieth century: nationalism is a global phenomenon, with no area free from ethnic protests and nationalist uprisings. At present, the nation and nationalism remain the moral basis of states and of the international system, to the extent that the organisation grouping the states of the world is called the United Nations. This essay will attempt to explain this ubiquity and persistence of contemporary nationalism, by examining the factors that have helped make nationalism a worldwide success, and also those which have allowed it to stand the test of time, despite many obstacles and challenges.

Firstly, however, it is necessary to define exactly what a “nation” and “nationalism” is. A...