The Past and Present of Nationalism: How Opinions on Nationalism Changed

Nationalism, which was believed to abate since the nationalist imperative of the congruence of political unit and culture has been achieved almost everywhere, is still one of the dominant ideologies in today's world. However, once viewed as a force for good, now nationalism is ill-reputed and many people think of it as the primary cause of international conflicts. This article will explain the reasons why opinions on nationalism have changed so dramatically. By exploring the definition and historical evolution of nationalism, we will see how it becomes the way it is right now, with self-determination as the primary goal, conspicuous exclusivity and more importantly, a special relationship with fascism, all of which contribute to people's misunderstanding towards nationalism. However, at a time when nationalism is still mounting around the world, it's worthwhile to find out the reason why it is still gaining momentum as well as to establish a correct attitude towards it. This article argues that there is no need to fear nationalism itself -- while it certainly isn't proper everywhere, it isn't everywhere improper. Instead, people should always be alert to those who abuse nationalism and the actions that may take it too far.