New Rose

Nationalism, Reason or Respond?

“Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,” said President Macron in his speech during the celebrations of 100^th anniversary since the end of World War I last November 11^th, around a month before the storm of Gilets Jaunes strikes France. One leader frowned after hearing his speech was President Trump, and we can see his expression here. The French leader also said, nationalism taking away the most important thing for any country: “its moral values.”  The controversial statement was definitely getting “excited” responses from the netizens all across the world. It’s normal if we questioned this statement, as the whole world remembered how France once pioneered nationalism movement around Europe during their glorified history. 

In case we wonder what is the exactly the background of this statement, maybe it’s time for us to expand our horizon to observe the current condition of Europe mainland. Since the current two years, the Blue Continent has been overwhelmed by immigrants flood from the conflict unrest country Syria (and some other countries). At first, the President of European Council Angela Merkel tried to do the right thing in regard with her position, by offering a temporary settlement for the immigrants. But, she seemed unaware to the facts that these immigrants came from some other unknown land with different cultural behavior and ethics. Women with short skirts and tank tops walk around the street are really a new thing for them. Male immigrants got themselves horny after watching these women, and raped (in some cases they gang raped) them. More European women got themselves sexually abused by immigrants. On the other hand, these immigrants are willing to take any job, even with lowest wage. This makes less jobs for locals, as they demand higher wage than immigrant workers. These are some small issues as a result of cultural and social collision between locals and immigrants, and it’s possible that there are still and will be more.

During 2017-2018, right wing movements in several European countries seem on their rise. In Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, and Germany, right wing parties are becoming more popular as the financial crisis and immigrants crisis widen. Number of right wing parties voters are increasing, since there is a dismay over the disappearance of national identity, and immigrants behaviors is considered inappropriate according to European community decent values. In the past, nationalism is a reason to fight against oppression, but now it becomes an excuse to defend over immigrants “attacks”. The switching of nationalism value in some countries made Macron felt uncomfortable, and probably he wondered why a community known as one of the world economic pillars are becoming anxious toward the poor?

From the inside out

This so-called article will tell a short story of nationalism journey as an ideology, either on international or local stages, begins with how this view become an eternal hit to how its current transformed face. We heard how this word were mentioned to polish certain community vision and mission, as a fuel to initiate change. Are you one of them to wonder whether nationalism is succeed to drive a nation to its goals?

Lost in a war or lost over a territory are two main factors mingle within mind of a nation and as a flame to start the nationalism engine. It was remain of France after their defeat against Germany during a war in 1871. Lost everything after risked everything is a deep pain, isn’t it? It is painful to witness what once belonged to us has been taken away and fallen to other hands. But, pain often becomes an enormous source to inspire great ideas. It was the source of inspiration for some French individuals at that time to begin Revanchism movement, with a purpose of taken revenge over France defeat and reoccupied regions which fallen to the hands of Germans. The movement gained its power from patriotic thoughts which frequently emerged after significant economic and geopolitics factors. Revanchism politics depended on the identification of a nation with nation state and the mobilization of ethnic nationalism root sentiment to revive nation oneness on territorial matter based on historical dynamics. Did this viewpoint succeed in motivating people of French at that time to reoccupy their territory?

After a long twisted journey, the willpower to avenge was finally paid off, even it taken at least 47 years later. Both countries were taken by means of destiny that re-confronted them against each other in the battle of World War I, as Europe was divided into two giant blocs, Triple Entente (French, Russia, UK) vs Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy). No different with Die Mannschaft (Germany football team’s nickname) performance in the 2018 World Cup, Germany suffered humiliation as it was defeated during the WWI. Germany military forces were disarmed and diminished, thousands of its people died after famine as they depended on imported food from US and UK. In addition to 13% territorial diminution, Germany and other defeated countries must paid material damage to the won countries committee. An ex-soldier named Adolf Hitler was unhappy with the settling of WWI aftermath. He thought his country was like stabbed in the back. While served his sentences as the punishment of protesting the official government, he written “Mein Kampf”, and its main idea was about to seized Germany victory by creating a country with a single race. We all know how the story went, how gigantic Holocaust and military aggression were under his commands. Eventually, the bitterness after a downfall is also strong enough to transform human beings into monsters.

During the now era, recent trend of harmonious synergy between revanchism and nationalism is war trade between Chinese vs US. ‘Made in China’ stuff is well-known and welcomed in the market, because they’re cheaper. US claimed that Chinese’s products are lack of originality (and usually followed by lack of quality) and are results of intellectual property violation, as they seemed to crib famous brands’ product. But, no matter how its’ quality, customers tend to prefer the cheapest one. This makes US products become less popular in the global market, even in its own local market. On the other hand, the facts that many famous US brands settled their factories in China have got on US president nerve, as job opportunities in the country was lessen. As to avenge against the facts, starting from June 2018, US imposes new import tariffs over some substantial goods manufactured and sold by China (and other countries) which entered US market. China responses this policy with retaliatory increase in tariffs over American goods. Both US and China insist that they just defend their own nations pride respectively during this unarmed conflict. Even though the agreement on the trade war ceasefire have been signed by both parties, its high tense is still in the air. Along with the passage of time, nationalism is not merely about how to fight off invaders, or to defend country’s sovereignty. Nowadays, it is competition to dominate the market, or customers, which seem to inspire heroic actions under the flag of nationalism.

From the outside in

All creatures in the world able to survive not only hanging on their strengths and potentials, but also on their ability to adapt with the change of their surroundings. At first, a rejection to get out of the comfort zone is possible to emerge. But, just to survive is not the only way to continue living, it is what defines humans worthily over the entire God’s creatures. The similar logic also goes the same for nationalism. Despite massive devour inside the inmost of a nation, other cause that actuates nationalism is the peripheral external factors.

Crimea is a peninsula in the northern coast of Black Sea in Eastern Europe, adjacent to Ukraine, Russia, Romania, and Turkey. Its strategic geographical position becomes the main reason why this land is the bone of contention, major background of disputes between countries since the Middle Ages. In spite of its beautiful waters scenery, the history of Crimea Peninsula is somehow complex. In 1954, USSR then Russia, handed over the peninsula to Ukraine Republic upon a consideration that the two regions were having cultural and economic relation similarity. Did it make sense if the foundation of this decree was because both countries shared the same ideology at that time? As a matter of fact, the decree was a “betrayal” against the preceding agreement, viz., the Treaty of Paris (1856). On the agreement settled the end of Crimean War between the Russian Empire and an alliance of British Empire, Second French Empire, Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire, it was agreed that the alliance shall cast their foot off from some of Crimean harbor cities and restored them to the Russian Empire. A time journey from 1856 to 1954 was enough for Crimeans to consider their identity as a part of Russia mainland. So, it should be acceptable and understandable if they decided to choose Russia over Ukraine on the 2014 referendum. The referendum outcome itself is a reflection of Crimean aspiration, evoked by the cognition to return after compelled to leave their root for almost a century.

Going back to the roots or remembering history, as it was believed by some folks, is one of a best way to re-raise nationalism as a nation’s vision. By learning our history, we are able to learn the fundamental of a nation’s will to establish a country with all of its complexities. The thing is, back to the roots of history sentiment sometimes is just romanticism, like high school nostalgia that we could only recalled while having a coffee with friends. It’s beautiful, but never returns.

To adapt, or to adjust, doesn’t mean we are forgetting our respective nations’ visions and goals. It’s more like become flexible when encounter any sort of differences during our journey to find our dreams as a nation with high dignity. Nationalism must evolve itself to be able to survive as an ideology, or decay slowly as the world caught between the conflicts of interests. Or, it disappears from the existence, transform into something new after let itself diffuse with its “comrade(s)”.  (swastantika).