This essay examines the multifaceted concept of patriotism, moving beyond the simple dictionary definition of "love for one's country" to explore its deeper cultural and social dimensions. Drawing on historical critiques from figures such as Samuel Johnson and Leo Tolstoy, as well as modern examples including the American response to the September 11 attacks and China's appeal to patriotic solidarity during the SARS epidemic, the paper argues that patriotism is fundamentally distinct from nationalism. While nationalism implies the aggressive imposition of one group's will over others, cultural patriotism reflects a sense of belonging, shared identity, and communal purpose. The essay concludes that patriotism, properly understood, is a positive force in modern society, provided it is not co-opted for political or nationalistic ends.
On the surface, the word patriotism seems very easy to understand or define. A common definition found in many dictionaries is the "love for or devotion to one's country." However, there are many different views and opinions about patriotism, and research soon makes it obvious that this term is more complex than it first appears.
While many understand patriotism as a positive thing, others see it in a negative light. This paper deals with the various views on patriotism, which cannot easily be tied down to a single meaning, and explores the often conflicting perspectives on the subject. The central argument is that the real meaning of patriotism has more to do with culture and social identity, and that it is essentially a positive force in the modern world.
The September 11 terrorist attacks on America focused attention on the meaning and importance of patriotism. Many people felt a sense of identity and solidarity in the face of the terrorist threat, understanding patriotism as a sense of community under siege. On the other hand, there are those who distrust patriotism and see it as a means of deceiving people — a form of manipulation. This skeptical view largely stems from perceptions of patriotism shaped by the First World War. Given the war's devastating human cost, many throughout the world began to question the meaning of patriotism. People of that era felt that their governments and political leaders had misled them about the purpose and likely outcome of the war, prompting them to ask what being patriotic truly meant.
Even before the "Great War," many critics and intellectuals had questioned the real meaning of patriotism. For example, Dr. Samuel Johnson, the 18th-century scholar, stated that "Patriotism, sir, is the last resort of scoundrels" (PATRIOTISM: A MENACE TO LIBERTY). Another prominent voice against the idea of patriotism was the writer Leo Tolstoy, who "defines patriotism as the principle that will justify the training of wholesale murderers" (ibid).
Some of the disagreement about the positive or negative aspects of patriotism stems from a failure to distinguish patriotism from nationalism. This distinction is very important, as these two terms are often used as though they meant the same thing. Patriotism is essentially:
"...devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally." (Patriotism)
Nationalism, on the other hand, refers to the desire for control and power over others. The idea of nationalism is visible in the growth of the Nazi Third Reich under Hitler, where patriotism became an insidious vehicle for nationalism and the imposition of national views on others. Patriotism, by contrast, is more about pride in one's culture and society and the need for a sense of belonging and identity.
Those opposed to patriotism argue that it can become negative if it develops into a sense of superiority over others, potentially leading to conflict between different groups or cultures. This more negative view is expressed in the following passage:
"Patriotism assumes that our globe is divided into little spots, each one surrounded by an iron gate. Those who have had the fortune of being born on some particular spot consider themselves better, nobler, grander, more intelligent than the living beings inhabiting any other spot. It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot to fight, kill, and die in the attempt to impose his superiority upon all the others." (ibid)
"Positive cultural patriotism illustrated by real-world cases"
"Patriotism's relevance challenged by globalization"
There are many different ways of seeing and discussing the term patriotism. The central point that can be made is that patriotism should be distinguished from forms of nationalism. Patriotism understood as a sense of cultural identity is a positive force that builds solidarity and common purpose within a country. While patriotism is a positive and functional part of modern culture, it is equally important not to allow patriotism to be used or distorted for political or other ends by governments and politicians.
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