Patriotism and Nationalism

[Sigbru]

What is the differance between Pariotism and Nationalism? I hear the term "Patriotism" or "Patriot" used quite alot, most by American's but I've noticed it start to creep into British culture as late and I've also read it from a few Brazilians...
I ask this because I really can't see the differance between the two =P

Patriotism: Standing up for one's country and taking pride in it, perhaps even being willing to die for it. Is this not the same as Nationalism ?

The only theory I can come up with is that Nationalism has the stigma of Nazi Germany attacted to it and the results of the National Socialist Workers Party being in power. Or is this an example of American-ism ie: creating words and sticking isms on the end as if they mean something? =P

So do they really have different meaning or are they just two equivalents of the same word ?

Also, what does Nationalism/Patriotism mean to you ? do you think them with two meanings or one in the same ?

So many "?"...

[wojonatior]

patriotisim means what you said but nationilisim means being proud about your country and doing something about it. i think............?

[Serpentine]

This isn't strictly speaking correct, but the way I understand it is:
Patriotism is the pride in one's country.
Nationalism is the pride in one's country at the expense of/for being "better than" others.

I'll check the dictionary for the proper definitions...
Patriot: a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it.
Nationalism: patriotic feeling, principles, or efforts > an extreme form of this marked by a feeling of superiority over other countries.

Don't think I was too far off.

[bosssmiley]

^ Naga ninja'ed! :smallbiggrin:

Patriotism: respect for/love of one's country and it's characteristic culture, traditions, landscapes, etc.
Nationalism (as commonly understood): thinking one's country and/or the people in it inherently superior to others. A type of obnoxious chauvinism.

The former quality is typified by the British gentleman abroad, the latter by football hooligans abroad. Of course, one blurs into the other quite easily with the addition of a little alcohol. :smallwink:

There is also political nationalism, which is the belief that people belong in - and best govern themselves by - association in national groups with shared language, culture, traditions, etc. Contrast with supra-nationalism (as typified by the UN), regionalism/localism, internationalism and ecumenism.

There is nothing inherently racist or exclusionary in nationalism, it's just easily hijacked by opportunists. :smallannoyed:

[Morty]

Patriotism and nationalism are mistaken far too often. Trust me, I know that.
As said above, patriotism is being proud of country/nation and its achievments, as well as identifying with it.
Nationalism is a belief that one's nation is inherently better than others, and contempt to all other nations. Nationalism is most usually inherent with xenophobia.

[I'm da Rogue!]

^ Agree.

A nationalist also thinks his country is better than other countries, which can lead to racism.

Isn't this topic a politics topic?:smallconfused:
I know we're just talking about definitions, but can we do that? :smallconfused:

[StickMan]

I agree with all of thee above. I'm a Patriot when it comes to my love of my nation, I think the US is great but not perfect. I'm a Nationalist when it comes to OSU football, come on you all know we are the best (OK the term does not exactly fit but you get the point).

[Wraithy]

from a UK perspective, patriotism is often mistaken for nationalism, thus nationalist parties such as UKIP and the BNP arise, and people who are patriotic are mistaken for nationalists.
one year the government told us to celebrate st. Patrick's day (patron saint od ireland), but not st. George's day (st. George is the patron saint of england for those who Don't know), that was rediculous.
I believe that there is no clear line, both of these terms are just representations of ideas, and ideas change quickly, people cannot be grouped into clear cut categories... ever. the definition of a word is what people think it is at the time it was spoken, long ago words like nationalism were the same as patriotism, due to social/historical events, the meanings of these words have drifted apart. I would say that nationalism is a more extreme version of patriotism. stangely enough though, most nationalists call themselves patriots.
at the end of the day, your choice of words is interpreted by the one who recieves them, not the one who chooses them. we should remember the meaning of our statements and change the words according to our audiences.

[Lemur]

It looks like other posters have also spelled out the differences between the two fairly well, I think. However, nationalism can also be used to describe belief in the concept of nations in general. Nationalism might mean, especially in historical contexts, a focus on the form of nation-state form of organization, as opposed to other structures, like kingdoms and empires.

Although we live in a world where every place where people live is part of a nation, nations didn't even exist several hundred years ago.

[Narmoth]

The confusion is a result of nationalists calling themself patriots, to conseal for others, or even not admitt to themselves, that they are nationallists.

[Serpentine]

It looks like other posters have also spelled out the differences between the two fairly well, I think. However, nationalism can also be used to describe belief in the concept of nations in general. Nationalism might mean, especially in historical contexts, a focus on the form of nation-state form of organization, as opposed to other structures, like kingdoms and empires.

Although we live in a world where every place where people live is part of a nation, nations didn't even exist several hundred years ago.
This was part of the definition I looked up (though I think it was more "the belief that your part of the world should be its own nation"), but I figured it wasn't applicable to this context.

[Roland St. Jude]

Sheriff of Moddingham: Real World Politics are an Inappropriate Topic on these boards.