I have jotted some stray, slapdash ideas concerning notions of nationalism and, in particular, white nationalism. These are mostly meanderings, but in the points below I outline why concepts of nationalism based on race are misguided in the current backlash against globalism. For what it’s worth, here goes:
- Recent political developments – Trump, Brexit, the Hungarian referendum against forced EU immigration quotas – seem to me to be reactions against neoliberalism, globalism, open borders, and anti-nationalism.
- In my mind, these reactionary political movements are good things in of themselves and display the frustration and annoyance ordinary people in countries around the world harbor against governments who have actively and willfully neglected the interests, security, well-being, and voices of their own citizenry in favor of:
- international trade deals, outsourcing schemes, and resource plundering campaigns that undermine and exploit citizens of nations in favor global corporations
- suicidal mass immigration that actively seeks to dissolve social cohesion and social order under the banner of some form of utopian multiculturalism
- open border policies that undermine the rights of native workers, increase social alienation, and weaken social stability
- repressive PC ideology that, in some cases, have criminalized free speech.
- Put more simply, citizens of nations are reacting against neoliberal globalism.
- This reaction has rekindled the notion of white nationalism in some citizens of the United States and Europe. Though it is somewhat understandable, especially in European countries, white nationalism, as a concept and movement is, in my opinion, unrealistic, untenable, foolish, and dangerous.
- A part of the reaction against neoliberalism is the objection to wedge issues that liberals and leftists employ to empower and defend some groups within societies while simultaneously disempowering and attacking other groups within society all with the ulterior motive of destabilization. Wedge issues weaken social cohesion and agitate resentment. Subscribing to white nationalism amounts to little less than subscribing to another wedge issue. This is especially true in countries such as the United States.
- One idea people seeking to free their countries from the crush of globalism should embrace is the concept of civic nationalism; a nationalism that adheres to civic citizenship and acceptance of a national culture that does divide its citizens along racial or ethnic lines. Multiethnic, multiracial nations can be incredibly successful, socially cohesive places if all the ethnic and racial components that make up the fabric of the nation unreservedly and wholeheartedly agree to and accept a feasible and viable monoculture. (I am well aware of how big a pipe dream this is at first glance.)
- This holds true even for European countries where, on the surface anyway, white nationalism might seem tenable, but on closer inspection it becomes clear that a strict form of white nationalism would be unsuccessful even in mainly homogeneous countries like Hungary. Under a white nationalist banner, the Roma and other non-ethnic, non-white Hungarian citizens would be instantly marginalized even more than have been or are marginalized currently. In addition to being a grave injustice, this type of nationalism would be a detriment to social cohesion and order in the long run.
- Having said this, it must be recognized that European countries are homeland nations – that is they are homelands of certain ethnic groups and deserve to remain the homelands of these ethnic groups. This self-evident truth is inherent in the very names of the countries themselves. Finland should remain the home of the Finns; Slovenia for Slovenes; Italy for Italians. All non-ethnic citizens wishing to settle in these countries should adhere and respect this and strive to become Finns, Slovenes, and Italians themselves. They should attempt to force their values on the homeland countries nor buy into the political wedge issues that countless anti-national and social justice NGOs peddle to them. The Finns, Slovenes, and Italians, on the other hand, should strive to accept these members of society as Finns, Slovenes, and Italians in the interest of avoiding the creation of parallel societies within the border of one country. Mass immigration to home countries – this includes non-European homelands as well – whether legal or illegal, regardless of the reasoning for it, must be avoided at all costs. This should not be seen as racist or xenophobic. Encouraging multiculturalism in the sense that other cultures eventually occupy positions that challenge the native culture of the homeland should also be anathema in these places. Non-native citizens or those wising to be citizens who refuse to obey the laws or ways of the monoculture should not be allowed to stay.
- What is needed then is a form a transcendental nationalism that embraces all of its citizens, yet demands respect for and adherence to a strong monoculture. (Again, big pipe dream, I know.)
- After that, nations need to embrace, support, and develop the sovereignty of other nations to help them defend against social wedge issues, financial plundering, labor and resource exploitation, illegal military incursions, and all the other hallmarks of rampant neoliberal globalism.
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