Leon Baradat discusses the concept of nationalism as a political ideaology. He argues that it emanates from the idea of a nation, which he defines as a community of people with a common ethnicity, culture, language, and or descent (Baradat, 2008). According to him, it is not necessary that a nation has physical borders, though having borders does not preclude a territory being considered as a nation.
It is on such basis that he defines nationalism in the context of territoriality. He opines that in its simplest form, it refers to a sort of territoriality or property value (Baradat, 2008). He gives an analogy of a sandbox to illustrate the concept. Just like the occupant of a sandbox is required to remain in it and not disturb other people in their sandboxes, so too does nationalism require the people of a particular nation to protect what is in their own territory. Accordingly, Baradat opines that nationalism has a sense of possessiveness and personal identity.
It is this sense of possessiveness and personal identity that makes nationalism a powerful political idea. As a matter of fact he considers it the most powerful political idea over the past 200 years (Baradat, 2008). Baradat argues that it is through nationalism that major political milestones have been made. He gives an example of the Napoleonic wars and the French revolution. The theme underlying these events, and indeed all other events motivated by nationalism, is the need to protect and make an identity for the nation. The extent of how powerful nationalism is is evident in the seeming limitless sacrifices that are made for the nation in the name of nationalism (Baradat, 2008).
References
Baradat, L. P. (2008). Political Ideologies: Their Origins and Impact (10th Ed). New Jersey:
Prentice Hall. Print.
