Nationalism... and Patriotism

Continued notes on Nationalism within India

• One ethnicity for one nation-state is rare
• Pakistanis in India: Muslims became the "other"
• "Slumdogs" -- hard to escape the slums of India, generational poverty due to infrastructure
• Hindu religion: caste system, defined by destiny
• Muslims in India lower status than the untouchables (13.4% of population = Muslim)
• Education: key to social and economic mobility

Problem of Nationalism

• Government invest in committees and reports, yet it just takes time away from solutions
• Government recognizes and celebrates Muslims; however, this attitude doesn't play out among the

Compare/Contrast: Nationalism v Patriotism

Examples of Nationalism...
-Olympics
-Country Music
-pins
-includes sense of superiority: taught in schools, minimize own past mistakes/failures
-desire for independence/nation

Examples of Patriotism...
-acts of service
-love and devotion to country
-4th of July
-national anthem
-flags

Anti-Nationalism (anti-government, not people):
-flag burning
-upside down flag
-burning leader in effigy
-foreign/local extremist

Where does Nationalism come from?
-learned within schools (Social Studies, aka Indoctrination 101)
-indoctrination: brings about social cohesion
-When taught by religious leaders, the two fuse: religion + nationalism

Age of Nationalism: accelerated after WWI (prior: widespread multi-nationalism)

Nationalism gone-bad:
-Hitler-Germany
-Rwanda
-etc.

Current Events:
-One President of the EU
-Nationalism at football matches
-Olympics: opening ceremonies, flag run: ultimate sign of nationalism

Suggestions... teach less nationalism, teach more patriotism--candid education of failures and oppressive acts by own country (Native American history, Slavery, Columbus = Spaniard)

Suggested Reading: War is the Force that gives us Meaning

Kashmir Discussion

In our International Studies (Prof. K. Schmidt) course today, at Concordia University--St. Paul, we are discussing the long-standing conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.

• India has 16 different "official languages"
• Islamabad located near Kashmir intensifies the conflict
• Costs of conflict: lives and economic stress
• Military rules both sides of Kashmir
• Potential to be a major tourist destination: famous artists
• Politicians invoke religion: Muslim identity identified to distinguish self from Hindus
• Military defense offered to others in order to gain control of a region
• 1999: Pakistan nearly gained control over the region
• China involved after '99--controlling a portion of the region
• Nuclear superiority being pursued by Pakistan, India, and China

Solution: give Kashmir independence. Main problem: where should the borders lie?

India and Pakistan's nationalism is on the line.

• Kashmir conflict: mainly political conflict rather than religious
• Students don't feel same sense of prejudice as their parents
• Islam: moderate majority of religious observers respect other religions
• Muslim polygamy frowned upon in India
• Sikand sees division between two countries as helpful in defining their nationalism
• Muslim minority facing socioeconomic marginalization, target for attacks
• India: nationalism without legs because there is too much diversity
• Schools educate the children with national pride