Morality and the nation: Was the birth of the European nation an immoral deviation?

Abstract The author points out that the moral condemnation of “nationalism” is common in contemporary Anglo-Saxon literature does not hold up once we subject it to historical and, by extension, sociolinguistic criticism. This term, originally nebulous and confusing, has become meaningless as a result forgetting designation relationship an individual (or social group) entity nation, empirically well grasped process nation formation under conditions were specifically European. circumstance especially important case category “small nation”, which means those nations whose took place form national movement – purposeful effort acquire all relevant attributes for one’s own ethnic community. movement, its scholarly agitational phase, was based on selfless develop ennoble abstract community cultural values should be designated term “patriotism” possibly translations into (some) central European languages, are used with morally positive connotation. pejorative label justified only where progressed mass when substantial part, if most, members group have identified nation. Since then, been necessary talk about dual position. Not position but also “sociological fact”, acquired ambivalent nature struggle power. ambivalence tension between altruism egoism still preserved today even interest discussed.