Question

Discuss how the recent rise in Nationalism across nations pose challenges for ideals of Liberal Democracy (minimum 750 words)

Answer 1

Nationalism is defined as the feeling of owning to the idea of one great nation , which a person and his peers lives in. The nation is the home place of beliefs and practices which have been followed from a long period , shaping the decisions and cultural leanings of the individuals. The sense of owning to the factors influencing the changes and decision of the people , with in the legal territory , produces a feeling of patriotism and sometimes dependence of emotions and identity on the people. These factors gives birth to feelings of insecurity and protection of mother land , in order to protect the ideals and identity . Usually nationalism rises from a common understanding of beliefs and thoughts guided by religion . Hence nationalism is also interpreted with the view of what the religious scriptures teach It's followers.

Liberal democracy on other hand is described to a position of a power , usually an elected govt , or elected leader ,who is put forward with an idea of integrating the whole idea of unity in diversity. This system sees the involvement of both a democratically elected leader / govt and the choices of decision making are liberal and integrating in nature. Liberal democracy tries to incorporate different people with different ethnicity and belief and unite them with common belief of growth and development. It must be noted that liberal democracy focus on collective growth through economic , political and social democracy and upliftment. It tries to bring together a large variety of people and gives direction to a common goal and ultimately uplifts everyone.

Having discussed both the ideas , in today's time the world is facing a rise in the sense of nationalism . The reason for this is , with opening of the world and economies across nations with rising technology and globalisation , people today are trying to protect their own identity which is making them insecure regarding protection of their mother religion , ideas and belief. The fear of beliefs being outdated and replaced makes this insecurity sometimes violent and irrational. The leaders being elected are having great biasis , which is dangerous for the minorities and obstructs the harmony in the walls of the nation. The radical ideologies of people instructs the propogrates sometimes suppression of minorities with fear of them starting to spread a different idea and irrational belief , that this belief might over take their's . Liberal democracy is threatened by this , as rising nationalism makes people believe in working with a leader who can propograte their thoughts and ideals . The open environment and decision making is hampered by spreading of such decisions. The singular view of growth in long term leads to intolerance rise among communities and gradually can lead to fall of the construct of a liberal democracy.

This is how nationalism poses challenges to ideas of liberal democracy.