Rights and Wrongs
We have learned history of nationalism, causes and other things about nationalism. Feelling of nationalism is an old concept, but nationalism as an ideology existed in modern age and became stronger with the constitution of nation-state.
Well, is rising of nationalism and being nationalist an useful thing?
When the societies are weeker, nationalism starts to increase. For example, when terrorism increases, nationalism also increases or if imperialism exploits a country, in this country national feelings become stronger. Otherwise, if society lives in peace and nothing is wrong, nationalism doesn’t increase. Like cement, nationalism and religion hold a nation together. But what about the minorities in the same country?
This is evident that nationalism is good for the people which are from same nations. It holds them together, peace exists etc. But we can not forget that there are so many others people from other notions and wşth being nationalist we exclude them. We see them as “others” like we don’t buy their products or if we choose an employee, we choose a person from our nation. This is a bad view from nationalism.
For example, now there is terrorism in Turkey and thus many people have anger for Kurds. But are all Kurds terrorists? Of course not. But if we would be patriotic, we want to live in solidarity with Kurds and other nations. If we has a problem like PKK, it is not all Kurds’ crime.
Or we can give other examples about how nationalism was used bad. In 70s, 80s and 90s there were more than one massacres that scuppered by “nationalist” citizens. In Maraş in 1978, someone provoked religious and nationalist people and thus they attacked Alaouites and leftists and more than a hundred people were killed in two days. In Çorum in 1980, again because of same reasons, about sixty people were killed. In Sivas in 1993 again 35 people were killed. Because someone provoked the public, and society met with a disaster by these “ignorant” citizens in the name of nationalism. At result more than twp hundreds of people were killed.
Finally, we mentioned about nationalism’s using areas. Is it necessary? Must all these people die? Maybe, basis nationalism reperesented goodness, but it is also susceptible of other interpretations and it is because of its concepts. That’s the truth, but another truth is until the nation-state will disappear, nationalism will always exist and “some” will want to use it for their interests.