Nationalism and Internationalism
What the domain tests
This domain asks you to distinguish patriotism from chauvinism, define nationalism and internationalism, and assess whether they conflict or complement each other.
Core ideas
- Nationalism: identification with a nation and a claim to self-government or cultural unity. It may be civic (based on citizenship) or ethnic (based on descent and culture).
- Patriotism: attachment and responsible service to one's country. Chauvinism is aggressive, exclusivist nationalism.
- Internationalism: cooperation across borders through international law, organisations, trade, and collective security.
- Relationship: sovereignty and global cooperation can be balanced; internationalism does not necessarily require surrendering national identity.
Worked example
India contributes troops to UN peacekeeping while defending its own borders. The reasoning shows national interest and international responsibility operating together rather than as a zero-sum choice.
Traps
Do not equate all nationalism with aggression. Do not treat internationalism as world government or as the end of sovereignty. Do not confuse patriotism with blind loyalty; democratic patriotism can include criticism.