Whenever an important and controversial phenomenon such as nationalism arises in the world, the most pressing questions are: Who are the flag bearers and founders of this thought and idea? What factors have contributed to the development of this phenomenon? In this part of the article, we will introduce the reasons for the emergence of nationalism, the factors that strengthen it, and the initiators of this phenomenon.
What Was the Reason for the Emergence of Nationalism and Its Spread in the West?
The most fundamental reason for the emergence of nationalism among Westerners, which later spread to Islamic countries, was opposition to religion and religious manifestations. Additionally, nationalism appears to be an inherent quality of Europeans, woven into their cultural fabric. Many of them take pride in their nationality and consider it a source of growth and superiority over others.
Allameh Seyyed Abulhasan Nadwi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in his valuable book “Maza Khaser al-Alam Be Inhetat al-Muslimin”: “Patriotism and nationalism, along with a great emphasis on people and geographical location, are among the characteristics of the European nature, which have flowed in the channel of the European soul, permeating like blood in their veins and skin, becoming a second nature of Europe.”
Nationalism is a Western trend that emerged in the last century in Europe amid various challenges. This movement developed through stages of adjustment, transformation, civilization, colonization, a break from the church, and the decline of feudal lords, paving the way for the rise of nation-states.
Although nationalism, a sense of nationality, racism, and the attachment to a nation, tribe, and race are not new phenomena, they have existed since the creation of humankind. It is in the form of a codified ideology that nationalism has come to the forefront, particularly since the Renaissance era and the rise of humanistic thoughts. One of the notable features and achievements of humanistic thinking is nationalism. This movement began in Europe and gradually intensified, becoming a tactic for world conquest and leading to the rise of Nazism in Germany and Fascism in Italy. This trend of humanist thought did not only spread within Europe; British colonialism also promoted nationalism in third-world countries, especially in the Islamic world, for its own interests and ambitions.
Evidently, nationalism was initially a popular reaction, particularly from the 18th century onward, against the patriotic world of the ruling classes and what Ferro described as the “international courts.” Consequently, nationalism, with all its fluctuations, emerged in Western countries and subsequently spread to other nations.
