AND RENAN AND ANDERSON'S ANDERSON'S DEBATE ON DEBATE ON NATIONALISM NATIONALISM

Before we can examine the many conceptual Before we can examine the many conceptual conceptions of nationalism of two renowned conceptions of nationalism of two renowned specialists in specialists in languages and civilizations, as well languages and civilizations, as well as philologists, philosophers, historians of as philologists, philosophers, historians of religion, and philologists who are also well-known religion, and philologists who are also well-known for their knowledge of nationalism, it is important for their knowledge of nationalism, it is important that we first understand what nationalism is. Even that we first understand what nationalism is. Even today, students and teachers in classrooms utilize today, students and teachers in classrooms utilize that frequently to examine the definition of that frequently to examine the definition of nationalism and how it might benefit a nation. nationalism and how it might benefit a nation. The nationalism philosophy or movement The nationalism philosophy or movement prioritizes a person ' s patriotism and commitment prioritizes a person ' s patriotism and commitment to their nation-state over any other interests they to their nation-state over any other interests they may have. A strong belief that one ' s country is may have A strong belief that one ' s country is superior to others because of a shared ethnicity, superior to others because of a shared ethnicity, language, religion, culture, or set of societal ideals language, religion, culture, or set of societal ideals is required for this. Nationalism typically seeks to is required for this Nationalism typically seeks to form a nation-state by securing and preserving form a nation-state by securing and preserving self-governance or sovereignty over a nation's self-governance or sovereignty over a nation's homeland, as well as by advancing and defending homeland, as well as by advancing and defending that nation's interests and identity. The core of that nation's interests and identity. The core of nationalism is nationhood, self-determination, nationalism is nationhood, self-determination, and nation-states. and nation-states

A notable contributor to the study of nationalism

A notable contributor to the study of nationalism and national identity was Ernest Renan, a French and national identity was Ernest Renan, a French academic. He is a specialist in a wide range of academic. He is a specialist in a wide range of subjects relating to history, religion, and subjects relating to history, religion, and civilizations. According to Renan, countries have a civilizations. According to Renan, countries have a beginning and an end and do not last eternally. beginning and an end and do not last eternally. According to him, the common experiences and According to him, the common experiences and memories of a country's citizens serve as its basis memories of a country's citizens serve as its basis rather than factors like ethnicity, language, rather than factors like ethnicity, language, religion, or geographic location. Renan believed religion, or geographic location Renan believed that the collective memories and forgettings of a that the collective memories and forgettings of a nation's citizens shape its soul, or spiritual nation's citizens shape its soul, or spiritual principle. The theories and contributions of principle The theories and contributions of Renan, whose work significantly affected the Renan, whose work significantly affected the investigation of nationalism and national identity, investigation of nationalism and national identity, have had an impact on a wide range of academics have had an impact on a wide range of academics in the field. His idea that a nation is a spiritual in the field. His idea that a nation is a spiritual principle or soul created by a shared memory or principle or soul created by a shared memory or forgetting has had a particularly large impact. forgetting has had a particularly large impact Nationalist theorist Benedict Anderson, who Nationalist theorist Benedict Anderson, who flourished in the 20th century, was one of the flourished in the 20th century, was one of the academics who was affected by Renan's ideas. The academics who was affected by Renan's ideas The significance of common history and culture as the significance of common history and culture as the cornerstone of national identity is emphasized in cornerstone of national identity is emphasized in Renan's thoughts on nationalism rather than Renan's thoughts on nationalism rather than biological characteristics like race. He stressed the biological characteristics like race. He stressed the value of national unity and shared values rather value of national unity and shared values rather than division and exclusion. than division and exclusion

While Benedict Anderson was a scholar who also both remember and forget the past. According to both remember and forget the past. According to Renan, a country is made up of a group of people Renan, a country is made up of a group of people who have a shared history, a close bond, and a who have a shared history, a close bond, and a commitment to continue being one and to be commitment to continue being one and to be governed by consensus going forward. In contrast, governed by consensus going forward. In contrast, Anderson maintained that nationalism was an Anderson maintained that nationalism was an "imagined community" that spontaneously "imagined community" that spontaneously appeared at the end of the eighteenth century as a appeared at the end of the eighteenth century as a result of the fusion of historical forces. The idea result of the fusion of historical forces. The idea that one is a member of a group that is defined by that one is a member of a group that is defined by one ' s nationality, according to Anderson, is how one ' s nationality, according to Anderson, is how individuals create nations as cultural creations. individuals create nations as cultural creations. According to Anderson, nationalism is a modern According to Anderson, nationalism is a modern idea that has nothing to do with dynasties or other idea that has nothing to do with dynasties or other more ancient systems of organization. more ancient systems of organization.

While Benedict Anderson was a scholar who also contributed significantly to the study of contributed significantly to the study of nationalism. Where Anderson argued that nationalism. Where Anderson argued that nationalism was a cultural artifact that developed nationalism was a cultural artifact that developed spontaneously at the end of the eighteenth spontaneously at the end of the eighteenth century as a result of the convergence of distinct century as a result of the convergence of distinct historical forces. People were able to imagine historical forces. People were able to imagine themselves as a part of a community that was themselves as a part of a community that was defined by nationality, and as a result, defined by nationality, and as a result, nationalism spread across the globe. He thought nationalism spread across the globe. He thought of the nation as a fictional political community of the nation as a fictional political community that was limited and sovereign by definition. A that was limited and sovereign by definition. A radical departure from the conventional radical departure from the conventional understanding of the nation as a natural or understanding of the nation as a natural or inevitable social unit was Anderson's conception inevitable social unit was Anderson's conception of the nation as an imagined community. of the nation as an imagined community.

Anderson also made the observation that Anderson also made the observation that nationalism is a potent force and that nearly every nationalism is a potent force and that nearly every nation claims some portion of the world's nation claims some portion of the world's territory. He thought that the nation was the territory. He thought that the nation was the universal political model and that it had full universal political model and that it had full sovereignty over a piece of land that was well- sovereignty over a piece of land that was welldefined, connected, and had clear boundaries. defined, connected, and had clear boundaries.

Despite having diverse opinions on nationalism, Despite having diverse opinions on nationalism, they both agreed that it is a created idea. Renan they both agreed that it is a created idea. Renan places more emphasis on the need to coexist and places more emphasis on the need to coexist and achieve great things, while Anderson emphasizes achieve great things, while Anderson emphasizes the need for communication and shared interests. the need for communication and shared interests. Both imply that Both imply that

According to Anderson, nationalism is a cultural

According to Anderson, nationalism is a cultural construct that has spread around the world construct that has spread around the world through the imagination of people in response to through the imagination of people in response to historical forces. He saw the nation as an historical forces. He saw the nation as an imagined political community, with full imagined political community, with full sovereignty over a well-defined and contiguous sovereignty over a well-defined and contiguous piece of land. His views on nationalism have had a piece of land. His views on nationalism have had a significant impact on the study of this topic. significant impact on the study of this topic.

In conclusion, Renan and Anderson held opposing In conclusion, Renan and Anderson held opposing opinions about the nature of nationalism. opinions about the nature of nationalism. Anderson thought nationalism was a cultural Anderson thought nationalism was a cultural construct that evolved from historical processes in construct that evolved from historical processes in the late 18th century as a result of people thinking the late 18th century as a result of people thinking of themselves as members of a community defined of themselves as members of a community defined by nationality, in contrast to Renan's view that a by nationality, in contrast to Renan's view that a nation was formed by shared memories of its nation was formed by shared memories of its people According to Renan, a country is people. According to Renan, a country is determined by the common memories of its determined by the common memories of its citizens. Renan is well known for saying that a citizens. Renan is well known for saying that a nation is a "spiritual concept" that causes people nation is a "spiritual concept" that causes people to to