Are there positive outcomes of nationalism?

Question

I'm writing an article about nationalism. So far I have not come across a single piece of evidence pointing to nationalism as being good for the/an international community. Are there any historic examples of nationalism or patriotism being a positive force? Obviously it has helped countries, but usually at the expense of others. Are there any times where the world has been bettered by nationalism?

Answer 1

As you sort of pointed out, nationalism is usually a more positive force INSIDE a country than it is OUTSIDE. It helps to unify people that otherwise would have no common ground and helps them to accomplish more than they could as individuals, clans, or tribes (ex. if all Iraqis were spontaneously swept with a wave of Iraqi nationalism, the Iraqi civil war would be over because they would all be "brothers").

Nationalism (or rather conflicting nationalisms) are often a cause of war when you get to the international level. The only big positive thing I can see it doing on that level is that nationalism can inspire some countries to become great superpowers, and this winds up having a positive effect on the world. (1800s Britain, 1900s-present USA are examples of nationalism-motivated superpowers that were/are GENERALLY forces for humanitarianism, peace, and order in the world).

Answer 2

Nationalism has helped music and the arts quite a lot. One of the big reasons we support ethnomusicologists and cultural anthropologists is because in the early 1900s there was a drive to return to our roots and many people realized that most these roots would soon disappear if no body will take time now to preserve them. Some of the biggest nationalistic composers, such as Bela Bartok, got his start by spending years recording folk songs by different ethnic groups in his area, collecting over a thousand songs. In america, it led us to truly examining the music of native americans rather than just stereotyping it 'how-how' music. Even though nationalism is normally focused on lifting themself up, it did lead to the preservation of enormous amounts of folk culture around the world that would have been lost with industrialization if there wasn't a drive to preserve it.

Answer 3

Nationalism has helped many countries keep close to heart their true culture,religion, and language. The French, Italians, Germans, and most other Europeans are nationalist and that is why they have lasted so long on this planet and still have not lost touch with their roots.
Heil Europa!

Answer 4

Nationalism was a large part of what allowed America to mobilize the invasion of Nazi occupied France, helping to turn the tide of WWII in Europe/