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The problem with modern day nationalism is not a problem of nationalism per se, but it is similar to the issue that a lot of other ‘-isms’ of today are facing. That is that the radical contingent, the loudest of any group even if they are only 1% (especially now with the advent of social media), have taken over the narrative and the moderate 99% feel non-existent.
Now national pride at a temperate level where one feels that their nation is a pretty good nation to be a part of is understandable and at some level justifiable given the social nature of human beings who seek above all things a communal belonging. However, radical minds corrupt all concepts and can bring even the purest ideas to their extreme ends to make them seem malevolent. The idea of nationalism is no different.
We see the same problem in theism these days where the radical contingent of almost all major religions have started occupying the most space even if they are an anomaly. Similarly, the timely and frankly very important debate on gender equality has become downright absurd to the point of feminism being equated to a joke due to the radical feminists that actually do more harm to the cause they claim to be so selflessly flaunting.
When it comes to nationalism, radical minds tend to take the ‘chauvinistic’ approach and start to believe (or are taught that) their nation is somehow superior to other nations. This means that on the flipside, they believe other nations are inferior to theirs. This creates a sense of arrogance and an inability to see the mistakes of their comrades and the ability to overlook anything good on the other side of the proverbial and literal fence. This mindset is ripe for exploitation by politicians and those in power, where they keep us focused on the borders of our nations completely ignoring what is happening inside those borders.
Chauvinism masquerading as nationalism is like a dragon in a wolf’s clothing, not a wolf in a sheep’s clothing. That is because the issue of nationalism is already a pretty hotly debated topic along with along with being notoriously subjective. For example, take a moderately patriotic Indian and a similar minded Pakistani, put them in a room and tell them to decide which nation is better. What will probably ensue will be a rant from both people about how their nation is not just better than the other, but how its actually somehow better than any other in the world.
That is moderate nationalism, now imagine these two were slightly more passionate about their nations than the average person, perhaps of a jingoist mindset, and perhaps they were in some position of power, you can imagine what the consequences could be. The worst any of those two people arguing could do is hurl abuses or if matters get even worse then throw a punch. A chauvinist, fascist leader of a nation with a superiority complex and a powerful army, however, could do much worse.
If that seems a little absurd but let us remind ourselves of the many practical examples of this. Look at how a fascist dictator like Hitler, who felt the German nation was superior to other nations and felt that his ‘Aryan’ race of people should attain complete dominance over all other nations and races. His fascination with this idea led to the rise of Nazism in Germany and was one of the many reasons for World War 2.
Although the idea of nationalism itself isn’t harmful, if taken to an extreme level, however, it could prove very destructive. We should all love our nations, our cultures, and our uniqueness. But don’t forget that we as humans are all born with the same chemical compositions, we are all inherently the same species and that these national divides help us identify our belonging and our identity, not decide whether a person born in Pakistan is better than a person born in India or vice versa.
