Nationalism and patriotism: concepts, distinctions, and comparisons

Nationalism & Patriotism

We often hear nationalism and patriotism being used interchangeably. But do we realize that though nationalism and patriotism may be related, these are two different concepts? What is nationalism? What is patriotism? What do these concepts mean? How are they different?

According to a paper presented by Wei, Roy, Wells, Rethen, and Huang (2006), nationalism and patriotism are the two different and specific manifestations of national identity. Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines nationalism as "loyalty and devotion to a nation" where emphasis is put on the promotion of a country's culture and interests. Nationalism is also an "ideology, a sentiment, a form of culture, or a social movement that focuses on the nation" (Nationalism, n.d.). Simply put, it refers to the "chauvinistic arrogance and desire for dominance in international relations" (Li & Brewer as cited in Wei, Roy, Wells, Rethen, and Huang, 2006). Nationalistic individuals have a sense of superiority and dominance over other people's countries, which stems from their loyalty and devotion to their own country. Patriotism, on the other hand, is defined by Merriam-Webster (n.d.) as "love for or devotion to one's country." It also signifies "positive love and pride in one's own country and its symbols" (Bar-Tal as cited in Wei, Roy, Wells, Rethen and Huang, 2006).