I. Origin of the nationalist doctrine.
"Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind." - Albert Einstein
Nationalism
is a doctrine which appeared as a reaction against anarchist ideas in
the nineteenth-century, along with statism. Both statism and nationalism
have formed in time the core of authoritarian political orientations:
Bolshevism, fascism, national socialism. These have led to the largest
known catastrophes in human history.
The arguments of nationalist
ideology represent the philosophical reflections inspired by German
idealists and romantics. Hegel argued that the state is more superior
than the individual and it is the highest form of consciousness. Such a
consideration leads automatically to the condemnation of freedom, the
denial of civil rights and the arbitrary and unjust rulings over peoples
lives. Hegel's speculative philosophy inspired a century later, Nazi
ideology.
II. Similarities between Bolshevism and fascism or between national-communism and National Socialism.
"Fascism is a religion. The twentieth century will be known in history as the century of Fascism" - Benito Mussolini
Therefore,
nationalism can be identified as both common in fascist ideology and in
the forms communism took over the twentieth century. Socialism in its
roots was internationalist, but the statist form it took was bound
towards nationalism and authoritarianism: thus the name of
national-communism.
Both fascism and Bolshevism (or
national-communism) constitute the opposite authoritarian direction of
the democratic and libertarian movements. The revolutions realized under
the fascists, Nazis or Bolsheviks inherently contain coercion, lack of
pluralism, strengthening state authority and intolerance.
III. The inherent implications of nationalism.
"Nationalism is our form of incest, it is our idolatry, our insanity" - Erich Fromm
Strengthening
state authority would be a first consequence. Nationalists base their
arguments about strengthening state authority on the identification of
enemies from within ( Jews, homosexuals, Roma, national minorities,
etc.). Against these enemies nationalists want to strengthen the means
of state coercion, ranging (as we find in the history of the twentieth
century) even towards genocide. The enemy from within is never the same
with real oppressor, his identification diverts the citizens attention
from the real oppressor (the state, ruling class, etc).
Another
consequence would be the limitation of individual freedom. Since the
masses can revolt against the injustice and abuse of the state, the
nationalists will seek to have control over them. How will this control
be exercised? Through the abolition of trade unions or other forms of
free association, by strict control of education, using media and
literary/artistic creations as means of propaganda to support the
nationalist regime and by a mass culture characterized by a wooden
language. Moreover - the ruling class of such a regime will seek to
ensure not only that citizens are exposed but will maintain a state of
terror in society, aimed to discourage any form of protest. In this
regard the known criminal activity of the state police services, such as
the German Gestapo, Soviet Cheka or the Iron Guard imposed terror in
Romania in the period in which they held power. Thus, all authoritarian
regimes in history have used an almost total restriction of rights and
civil liberties, using the official police and the paramilitary groups,
or bullies who were in the service of the party (the German SA, the
legionary police in Romania). Identifying an external enemy is also a
characteristic of nationalism. Instead of proper coexistence,
cooperation and keeping the peace, the nationalists identify, in general
among the neighboring countries, an enemy. Antipathies towards
neighbors are cultivated, based on the criterion of an alleged
superiority towards them. In this way national history is mystified to
accommodate their chauvinistic arguments.
IV. Characteristics of fascist nationalism.
"Nationalism...is like cheap alcohol. First you get drunk, and then it blinds, then it kills you " - Dan Fried
The
Romanian fascists (the Legionnaires or the neo-Legionnaires of the New
Right) used or are using religion as a way of manipulating the masses.
Other features of fascism (not only Romanian) are:
-
militarized organization. It aims to not allow free individual
development but to equalize both those who serve in the fascist
organization and the rest of the citizens;
- harsh discourses against minorities (Jews, Romani, Hungarians, homosexuals, etc.)
-
patriotism. It is promoted to induce a sense of duty towards the state
or the fascist organization and thus resulting in the willingness to
commit atrocities. The idea of patriotism is placed above their own
consciousness, so under the pretext of love of country, many end up
committing heinous acts that would otherwise not be able to commit;
-
restricting rights and civil liberties. This is necessary to overcome
all opposition, because a nationalist regime is opposed to one in which
pluralism and the divergence of ideas are accepted and tolerated;
- elitism. Restriction of power in the hands of a group seen as most
competent to make decisions. A direct consequence of elitism is
discrimination and moral corruption, and lack of democratic
participation and public debate.
V. The relationship between people and education in terms of nationalism.
"Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons" - Bertrand Russell
In
terms of relationships between people and education, the nationalists
share a traditionalist vision. Initiatives such as the emancipation of
women are not seen with good eyes by nationalists, even mistaking them
with immorality. The woman in a society subjected to a nationalist
regime will always be limited to the traditional role.
Throughout
history, the nationalists have encouraged denouncement and animosity
between people in order to form an amorphous mass of them. This is
common to fascism and Bolshevism.
Education, in the nationalist
vision should serve - not individual and personal development and the
obtaining of autonomy but its indoctrination according to the rigid
dogma of nationalism. Patriotism is encouraged to divert attention from
real issues, promoting the cult of heroes in order to inoculate people
with a false idea of national superiority.
