Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a nation. There are two main perspectives on the origins and basis of nationalism, one is the primordialist perspective that describes nationalism as a reflection of the ancient and perceived evolutionary tendency of humans to organize into distinct grouping based on an affinity of birth; the other is the modernist perspective that describes nationalism as a recent phenomenon that requires the structural conditions of modern society, in order to exist .There are various definitions for what constitutes a nation, however, which leads to several different strands of nationalism. It can be a belief that citizenship in a state should be limited to one ethnic, cultural, religious, or identity group, or that multinationality in a single state should necessarily comprise the right to express and exercise national identity even by minorities.

There are two major bodies of thought on the causes of nationalism, one is the modernist perspective that describes nationalism as a recent phenomenon that requires the structural conditions of modern society, in order to exist; the other is the primordialist perspective that describes nationalism as a reflection of the ancient and perceived evolutionary tendency of humans to organize into distinct grouping based on an affinity of birth.

Countries today, including us, promote nationalism with flags and patriotic media. Right nationalism is individualized characteristics between nations. Wrong nationalism is enslaving the populace. How countries today promote nationalism is mainly flags but others are international sports can promote nationalism along with money and currency and also having one main language for the country. There isnt really a right or wrong way to promote nationalism but there is just different ways to promote it.

Depends on what you mean by nationalism. Nationalism can vary from simply being national pride or patriotism (which are generally seen as being positive attitudes) to rampant bigotry and parochialism whereby anything "foreign" is vilified and rejected (Nazism/Fascism are extreme examples of this).

Generally, nationalism is used to describe the more negative concepts as opposed to the more positive ones. Nationalism is linked either directly or implicitly to racism, racial conflicts and bigotry whereby the population is indoctrinated to behave in frenzied and unquestioning manner.

However, if the word is used without judegement the positives are:

1) Patriotism and national pride. This is opposed to national apathy or even self hatred of ones nation and its culture.

2) Civic pride whereby people consider the wellbeing of the nation to be important in their everyday lives. JFK said it best when he pronounced "think not what your country can do for you, think what you can do for your country".

3) A more cohesive society so long as nationalism is not linked to racial qualities. True positive

nationalism embraces newcomers and instills them with the same pride in their new homeland that those born there already have.

Negatives are:

1) Bigotry and intolerance. Human nature being what it is tends to corrupt concepts that should be positive. Isolationism, racism and ethnic conflict are common.

2) Facism. The extreme is always a possibility once the door has been opened.

3) Simplistic thinking and population control through propaganda. Nationalism by its nature tends not to allow deversity of opinions and this results in accusations of disloyalty. As soon as you hear people shout phrases such as "un-American", "un-British" and "un-Australian" etc etc around, its a sign of people hijacking national identity to quell the views of their oponents.

4) Expolitation of the people by their leaders. JFK's already quoted statement can also have a horrendous aspect to it: reducing citizens to mindless drones to be exploited whereby the government does not serve the people, the people serve the government.

5) The creation of false enemies. Either in the form of actual people or in concepts, nationalism tends to create the existance of opposing forces, those who are a threat to the nation. Usually, these are not really a threat at all but are perceived so because they do not conform. Homosexuals, religious groups, ethnic groups, conscientious objectors, foreign powers and new ideas are all frequently portrayed as "wrong" or a threat.

Like Italy, Germany had quite a few serious issues to resolve once unification took place. [ Regional differences, developing since the first settlement of the Germanic tribes during the Roman Empire, were distinct, and local princes refused to give up substantial power to the central government. The Berlin assembly, therefore, was kept weak. Germany, like the United States under the Articles of the Confederation, seemed merely a loose of confederation of autonomous states. In Germany’s case, one state, Prussia, was absolutely dominant due to its size, power, and military strength. However, the creation of a unified Germany in central Europe marked one of the greatest revolutions in the history of international relations. Since the establishment of nation-states in Europe, France, under the Valois-Bourbon royal line, dedicated its foreign policy to the weakening of Habsburg (Austrian and Spanish royal families) and the continued disunity of the Germanic provinces. Now that central Europe was united into two major powers–Germany and Italy–Europe was quite a different place. What would now become of the traditional balance of power in place since the defeat of Napoleon? The whole point had been that no one nation should gain excessive power and strength on the Continent. Zionists used their belief in their racial supremacy, like most Europeans did at the time, to justify their colonization and dispossession of Palestine from its true owners. The Arab savage (they thought) could never understand what Palestine means to a Jew, for they could not have possibly attained the spiritual cognizance that was innate in Jews vis-a-vis their connection to eretz y’israel.

The Arab farmer, on other hand, is connected to objects: house, trees, goats, horses, chickens, etc. If these savages were to be craned out of Palestine and put on another piece of land, with houses, trees, goats, horses, and chickens, they would be equally satisfied.