Lecture on Nation and Nationalism
Nation- a group of people that shares a common culture, history, language and other practices like religion, affinity
to a place, etc
State – a political entity that has sovereignty over a defined territory sovereignty Territory
Nation-state – a state governing a nation. In a way fusion of elements of nation and state (territory)
Paths taken in the formation of nation-states (
The classical nation states began with the Treaty of Westphalia. Many paths were taken towards the development of
nation-states….
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First path- the process was an evolution from nation to nation-state in which members of the
bureaucracy( lawyers, politicians, diplomats ,etc) eventually moved to unify the people within a state to
build a nation-states
Second Path-was in the process, intellectuals and scholars laid foundations of a nation and work
towards the formation of political and eventually diplomatic recognition to create a nation
Third path taken by many Asian and African people involved in breaking off from colonial relationship,
especially after world War II when a series of decolonization and nation (re) building occurred.
Fourth path- by way of violent secessions by people already part of an existing state
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Nationalism- is a feeling developed by people living in a contiguous geographic are, a sentiment forged by
common history, language and literature, customs and traditions and even by common religion ( Louis Snyder)
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Is a spirit that binds together men of diverse castes and creeds, clans, colors and unites them into one
people, one family and one nation with common aspirations and ideals
Nationalism is socially constructed and imagined by people who identify within a group (Benedict
Anderson). The nation is seen as imagined because the people who affiliate with that community
comes a deep , horizontal comradeship that maintains harmonious c0-existence and even fuels the
willingness of the people to fight and die for that nation
In our country prior to the 19th century there was no unity among the people that is why all revolts against
the Spanish rule was a failure. What could have been the reason why native Filipinos were not united?
Reasons
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The insular and mountainous character of the Philippine geography –limited social contact and
communication
Dismal state of transportation and communication
Spanish policy of divide and rule has successfully worked because it was imposed on an intensely
regionalistic people ( referring to native Filipinos) who were not aware of a foreign control
The absence of common language and linguistic differences
Movement of the native Filipinos were limited due to the requirement of passport for travel as required
by the Spaniards
However, in the 19th century Nationalism in our country began to develop by the following
factors:
Opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 that connected Mediterranean and Red Sea – it shorted that route
between Europe and Asia and opening of the Philippines to International trade
Rise of the Middle Class or Media Clase – group of native Filipinos who became educated
Impact of European Liberalism
Racial prejudice against native Filipinos
Secularization controversyLiberal Regime of Carlos Ma. Dela Torre
Cavite Mutiny and Execution of GOMBURZA