Whether the Rise of Nationalism a Reaction to Globalization - Essay Example

Running Head: Nationalism Nationalism Name Institution Discuss the rise of nationalism in one or all of the following countries (Finland, Belgium and Hungary) and assess whether this is occurring as a reaction to globalization. Introduction “Nationalism” is used in the description of two phenomena: actions that nation members take when they seek to obtain or sustain self-determination and the attitude taken by nation members when their national identity is of great value to them. The former phenomena raises questions about national identity or the concept surrounding a nation which is more often than not defined in the terms of ethnicity, common origin or cultural ties (Hass, 1986). Benedict Anderson seconds this line of thought as he sees nationalism as linguistic identity. Anthony Smith also views nationalism as a given solidarity ideology which is pegged on preindustrial roots (Smith, 1991). It is noted that an individual’s nation’s membership is regarded as involuntary; it is however regarded as voluntary. The latter phenomena raises questions with regard to whether it is compulsory to understand self-determination as involving the attainment of full statehood with total authority over international and domestic affairs, or whether there is a requirement of something less. Ernest Geller who views nationalism as an industrial principle of social organization and evolution seconds this phenomenon. It is further seconded by Dudley Seers who views nationalism as certain economic policies (Geller, 1983). The Rise of Nationalism in Finland Nationalism of Finland was spearheaded by Alexander I. Alexander further declared that he had raised Finland into a family of nations. His actions separated the Finnish state institutions and did not immediately turn it into a nation. Their new situation challenged its people to consider their sense of nationhood, their group identity. In other words they were challenged to consider their autonomy from that of other people (Lavery, 2006). At the get go, Finns could only be able to identify themselves as not belonging to Sweden or Russia. Their feeling of separation was put very well by A.J. Lagus as “Swedes we are not, Russians will never be, so let us be Finns.” It is noted that the 19th century was a period of nation building in Europe. A scholar Benedict Anderson described a nation as a political community that is imagined. It is characterized by a common culture, language, religion, history and geographical space (Lavery, 2006). In Europe people had already identified themselves with the aforementioned characteristics and as such had come up with abstract groups. The abstract groupings were; a village, state, church or social group. By the 19th century Europeans’ political allegiance was pledged to nations above all other communities. The belief in a nation’s primacy as a major state of power and source of political allegiance is referred to as nationalism. Finland was an ideal place for the growth of nationalism since it was not segregated by religion as compared to other countries such as Ireland and Germany. Conflict was not fueled by regional differences. Finland also had its very own state institutions which was an important nation building instrument made use of in Western Europe. Similar to other Eastern Europe nations, Finland was depicted by strong literary movement that backed up nation building (Jutikkala, 1962). Finland’s nationalism literary roots date back to the eighteenth century Fennophiles. Fennophilia’s mission changed in the nineteenth century from one, which was majorly academic to one that had a wider public agenda. Turku Romantics were the vanguards of the change. The aforementioned scholars were active between 1818-1822 (Lewis, 2005). They pursued the use of a program, which was divided, into three. They firstly strived to build national pride through the exaltation of Finland’s past. Secondly, they encouraged the use of Finnish by Swedish speakers. Thirdly, they led to Finnish language literature development. However, the Turku, Romantics were not together for long. In 1823 one of its leaders; A.I. Arwiddsson ran to Sweden after tampering with the local authorities. Many of them set camp in a university Helsinki. The Saturday Society continued their work in 1830. The group founded Finnish language and literature. They also spearheaded the distribution of Finland’s history (Trotter, 2000 ). Three men who came into the picture in 1822 championed the greatest impact on Finland’s nationalism. The men were; Elias Lonnrot, Johan Ludvig Runeberg and Johan Vilhelm Snellman. Elias Lonnrot amalgamated poems by ordinary people and published them as the Kalevala. The Kalevala was published, as a Finland’s lost past chronicle. It depicted Finland’s roots from the East than the West (Klinge, 1983). Johan Ludvig Runeberg was Finland’s national poet. He lived between (1804-1877). It painted a vivid picture of agrarian Finland’s landscape. His collection of poems was named The Tales of Ensign Stahl. It was an account of the 1808-1809 war. The first poem in the collection gave Finland’s national anthem. His writing strove to give Finland some sense of uniqueness. Johan Vilhelm Snellman applied philosophy to Finland’s social action. He was very influential. He moved the cornerstone of Finland’s nationalism to linguistic from literary. Firstly, he made the entire nation adopt the Finnish language. Secondly, he championed Finnish language education’s improvement. Thirdly, he noted that the survival of the nation depended on their loyalty to the emperor. His entire movement was based on culture rather than a political movement (Lavery, 2006). He further transformed the senate to leading political figures from non-party civil servants. The language Rescript was also promulgated. The move had the Finnish language being its official language. Liberalism and svecomane took root. Liberalism laid emphasis on the individual as a society’s building block. It therefore laid emphasis on individual rights than the privileges of a group. Liberals saw the country’s legal autonomy as the nation’s basis (Jutikkala, 1962). In a nutshell, nationalism in Finland was fostered through the development of a common language, which enhanced oneness through ethnicity. Secondly, it was generated through the realization and embrace of their past which led to the development of their national anthem. Thirdly, the pursuit of Finland’s legal autonomy formed the basis of nationalism. The above were fostered with the fact Finland was not divided by religion like was seen in Ireland and Germany. Conflict was not fueled regional differences and it also had its very own state institutions. Is Nationalism a Reaction to Globalization? No. According to contemporary analysts, globalization is associated with deterritorialization in which growing assortments of social activities seem to take place irrespective of participants’ geographical location. It is observed that global events can in effect take place through digital computers, telecommunication, rocketry and audiovisual media alike. The events may also occur simultaneously everywhere and anywhere in the whole world (Scholte, 1996). Globalization refers to an increase in the possibilities for action among people who are in situations in which longitudinal and latitudinal locations seem immaterial to social activities at hand (Scholte, 1996). The term is seconded by (Ruggie, 1993) who refers globalization to spread of social activities that are non-territorial. Nationalism is not a reaction to globalization. Nationalism started in the 19th century in most European countries. This was even before industrialization that benefited and enforced international trade or globalization. Finland’s 19th century industrialization followed the following pattern; an increase in agricultural productivity which resulted into excess labor and capital which resulted into factory and machine investment (Lavery, 2006). It is noted that globalization depends on nationalism. This is because nationalism inspires the development of law, which governs a nation and as such governs globalization (Lewis, 2005). It is seen that economic change is related to law as it is with its relation to money. Laws such as deregulation fostered globalization in Finland. Therefore nationalism was not a reaction to globalization. Geographical location did not hamper interaction even in the old ages. The scholars went into different locations to collect materials that they used to foster nationalism and as such nationalism is not a reaction to globalization. In 1822 Lonnrot one of the earliest champions of nationalism collected a lot of folk poetry aided by the Finnish Literature Society. He travelled through Estonia, Finland, Ingria and Russian Karelia to pick poems that were recited by the local people. It is also noted that in the 1840s M.A. Castren (1813-1852) made a number of trips to northern Russia. Castren’s work identified a deep relationship between Finno-Uralic and Finnish languages (Klinge, 1983). This shows that there was deterritorialization in the 19th century and as such nationalism is not a reaction to globalization. Nationalism laid emphasis on language, which is one of the tools that enforce globalization since it makes communication between people who speak different languages easier. This shows that globalization is a reaction to nationalism. Finland’s use of Swedish made it a multi-lingual language, which enforced foreign interactions. Johan Ludvig Runeberg a 19th century nationalism champion wrote his poems by the use of Swedish. He is seen as one of the greatest poets to compile poems in Swedish. Since Swedish was used by a number of groups; the elite, the government and the education system it made it easier for laws to be deliberated between Finland and other Swedish speaking nations. The elite being better economically vested were able to trade easily with other Swedish speaking nations (Trotter, 2000). Nationalism is not a reaction to globalization since in the 19th century there already existed a number of different nations. This was shown by their interactions. For instance, between 1881-1914 around 280,000 Finns emigrated to Canada and the United States. There was also German immigration to Finland, which aided in Helsinki’s commercial growth. Holstein, Franz Stockmann bought and developed a glassware shop. Russian immigrants contributed to its economic growth as well. Nikolai Sinebrychoff in 1821 started a brewery that was situated in Helsinki. Another Russian in 1812, Feodor Kiseleff established a chief sugar factory. Also Sergei Nikolaeff of (1878-1920) started a company, which brought in the very first automobiles that was ever seen in Finland (Lavery, 2006). Globalization has been seen as a reaction to industrialization. Industrialization led to an increase in the production of goods and as such a bigger market was needed and thus international trade and the deregulation of domestic economies. The aforementioned had the greatest impact on the creation of Finland’s forest and wood industries. The heavy regulation of deforestation was ended in the year 1860. Great Britain the super power of the 19th century reduced its non-Canadian wood protective tariffs that resulted in making wood from Finland more competitive. New technologies further facilitated the ease in which wood pulp is turned into paper. The generated paper found a huge market in Russia. Furthermore a great demand for paper and wood products grew in line with Europe’s industrialization as the economy entered into its consumer economy phase of the 19th century (Trotter, 2000). Globalization is also seen as a reaction to the improvement of transportation infrastructure. Public investments channeled into canals lay a connection to Finland’s large inland waterways’ connection to the sea. Saimaa canal was the most important and was finished in 1856. It is still in use to date and it connects the Gulf of Finland with Lake Saimaa. A railroad was also built in 1862, which connected Hameenlinna and Helsinki. By the end of the century there were rail lines, which reached as far as Kuopiro and Oulu. Railroads facilitated the movement of goods more cheaply and quickly and as such increased access to Finland’s foreign markets (Lewis, 2005). References 1. Gellner, E., (1983). Nations and Nationalism. Oxford: Blackwell 2. Hass, E.B., (1986). What is Nationalism and Why Should We Study it? International Organization. Vol. 40, No. 3 pp. 707-74. Retrieved September 12th 2012 from The MIT Press http://www.jstor.org/stable/2706824 3. Jutikkala, E., (1962). A History of Finland. Praeger press: Praeger 4. Klinge, M., (1983). A Brief History of Finland. Otava press: Otava. 5. Lavery, J.E., (2006). The History of Finland. Greenwood Publishing Group‬: Helsinki 6. Lewis, R.D., (2005). Finland, Cultural Lone Wolf. Intercultural Press: Helsinki. 7. Ruggie, J.G., (1993). Territoriality and Beyond: Problematizing Modernity in International Relations. Journal International Organization. 47: 139–74. 8. Scholte, J.A., (1996). Beyond the Buzzword: Towards a Critical Theory of Globalization, in Eleonore Kofman and Gillians Young (eds.), Globalization: Theory and Practice, London: Pinter. 9. Smith, A. D., (1991). National Identity. Harmondsworth: Penguin 10. Trotter, W.R., (2000). A Frozen Hell‬: Read More