Nationalism

1. Axioms

The following axioms function as non-derived premises within nationalism. They express foundational assumptions about identity, sovereignty, and political legitimacy.

1. The nation is a primary moral community: People are bound together by shared history, culture, language, or ancestry.
2. Political legitimacy flows from the nation: Authority is justified insofar as it represents and serves the national community.
3. Self-determination is essential: A nation has the right to govern itself without external domination.
4. Boundaries matter: Territorial, legal, and cultural boundaries are necessary for political order.
5. Continuity has value: Preserving national traditions and institutions is morally significant.

2. Derived Doctrinal Commitments

From these axioms, nationalism derives commitments about statehood, citizenship, and policy.

• National sovereignty: The state should retain ultimate authority over its laws, borders, and institutions.
• Priority to nationals: The interests of citizens are often given precedence over those of non-members.
• Cultural preservation: Language, customs, and symbols are treated as goods worthy of protection.
• Political unity: Shared identity is viewed as supporting social cohesion and collective action.
• Skepticism of supranational authority: External governance structures are often seen as threats to self-rule.

3. Ethical Framework

Ethical reasoning in nationalism emphasizes loyalty, responsibility, and collective self-interest.

• Special obligations: Individuals owe stronger duties to compatriots than to outsiders.
• Collective responsibility: Citizens share responsibility for the nation’s well-being and future.
• Order and stability: Ethical choices often prioritize social cohesion and institutional continuity.

4. Practices

Practices function as political and cultural expressions of national identity and sovereignty.

• Civic rituals and national commemorations
• Border control and citizenship regulation
• Promotion of national language and history
• Domestic economic and industrial policy
• Independent foreign and security policy

5. Internal Diversity

Nationalism contains significant internal variation downstream from shared axioms.

• Civic versus ethnic conceptions of the nation
• Inclusive versus exclusive membership criteria
• Liberal-nationalist versus authoritarian-nationalist models
• Different balances between tradition, pluralism, and modernization