Miroslav Hroch. On European Roots of a Nation, Nationalism, and Patriotism

The paper discusses the differences between a nation in Europe and a “nation” outside Europe in terms of their genesis. The European nation exists in two senses: as a large ‘social group’, a community of real people; and as an abstract community of cultural values promoted by intellectual elites grounded in a humanitiesbased education. As the author postulates, it was born in Europe in the course of the modernization process, simultaneously with the striving for human equality, for political freedoms, but also simultaneously with rationalization, industrialization, urbanization – in the national self-concept this was reflected in the stereotype of the progressiveness of the nation. Cultural qualities and cultural specificities served as one of the foundations of national existence with the understanding that to develop national culture is to help develop the culture of all humanity. Identification with a nation implied a commitment to work for that nation. But today, all indications are that the bearers of identification with the nation are willing to do or sacrifice much less than their ancestors for their national identity. In addition, the widespread prejudice that condemns every positive expression of one’s relationship to the nation has prompted spontaneous reactions in the form of primitive nationalistic egoism. This has weakened the commitment people feel towards their nation and the humanistic potential that the nation possesses as a cultural community of values. In this respect, the distinction between European and non-European national identity may already be fading or reaching a new position.