Question

what is the difference between American nationalism and European nationalism? Explain what authors Robert Hinde and Joseph Rotblat mean by “the size of a country’s stockpiles [of weapons] is not always governed by apparent necessity.” President Trump is not the first president to speak of nationalism. What did President Teddy Roosevelt say about nationalism.

Answer 1

Difference between American nationalism and European nationalism

Ans- Many believe that America and Europe exhibit fundamentally different forms of nationalism. America, it is said, reside in a nation of immigrants and are thus civic nationalists, committed to a constitution and political values. Europeans reside in nations of blood and memory and are thus cultural or ethnic nationalists, committed to distinct cultures, languages and territories. Americans, living on an isolated continent, remain intensely proud, whereas, Europeans, having lived through long-term project of European integration, are now comfortably post national. American nationalism is bound with militarism; European nationalism is more based on social welfare ideals.

Joseph Rotblat is a Nobel Peace prizewinner and former nuclear physicist and Robert Hinde was a British psychologist. They co-authored a book 'War No More' and are advocates of peace. They argued in the book that the common denominator to all wars is availability of weaponry. According to them, the size of a country's stockpiles [ of weapons ] is not always governed by apparent necessity. It means people are clearly all too susceptible to political, religious and ethnic manipulation when it comes to motivating them to support wars. For centuries, societies have formulated their foreign policies on Roman Dictum, " If you want peace, prepare for war." When the means of offence exist, even though their original purpose may have been defensive, the temptation to use them, sooner or later, to prove overwhelming. They further argue that the very possession of nuclear weapons is immoral. Countries see development of nuclear weapons not as a deterrent anymore but it has become more of a competition.

Teddy Roosevelt's nationalism

Teddy Roosevelt called for the end of special protections for businesses in government. He declared that anyone who worked hard should be able to provide for themselves and for their family, and no person was more entitled to special privileges than another. He stood by rules of the game ensuring the rules made opportunity available to everyone. Roosevelt used the phrase " New Nationalism " in a 1910 speech where he attempted to reconcile the liberal and conservative wings of the Republican Party. He called for a great increase of federal power to regulate interstate industry and a sweeping program of social reform designed to put human rights above property rights. He said, " A great democracy has got to be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great or a democracy."