Peripheral Nationalism Between Pluralism and Monism

Abstract

"Nationalism" is ambiguous and was employed in liberation movements and to justify empire. Often identified with a language or common origin, it had a definite territory. The author distinguishes the nation-state from the cultural nation—both synthesized in the elective nation. Nations seek legitimacy through hegemony (Britain) or domination (France), and nationalism becomes a secular religion. Against it smaller democratic peripheral nationalisms appear, defending the cultural nation (Ireland, Brittany, Catalonia) against the nation-state. Their aim is emancipation and they may not demand a nation-state for thsmelves because they have opposed the concept to defend the region—so federal solutions may be preferred as according with regional pluralism against the monism of imperialism.

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