Note on Nationalism...

An old friend - not politically active but made restive by the prospect of the referendum on "independence" - sends me this extract from George Orwell's 1945 essay on Nationalism.

"Extract from ‘Notes on Nationalism’ – George Orwell Essay 1945

By 'nationalism' I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labelled 'good' or 'bad'. But secondly--and this is much more important--I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognising no other duty than that of advancing its interests.

Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved.

By 'patriotism' I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally.

Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, NOT for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.

A nationalist is one who thinks solely, or mainly, in terms of competitive prestige. He may be a positive or a negative nationalist--that is, he may use his mental energy either in boosting or in denigrating--but at any rate his thoughts always turn on victories, defeats, triumphs and humiliations. He sees history, especially contemporary history, as the endless rise and decline of great power units, and every event that happens seems to him a demonstration that his own side is on the upgrade and some hated rival is on the downgrade. But finally, it is important not to confuse nationalism with mere worship of success. The nationalist does not go on the principle of simply ganging up with the strongest side. On the contrary, having picked his side, he persuades himself that it IS the strongest, and is able to stick to his belief even when the facts are overwhelmingly against him. Nationalism is power-hunger tempered by self-deception.

Every nationalist is capable of the most flagrant dishonesty, but he is also--since he is conscious of serving something bigger than himself-- unshakeably certain of being in the right."

It's an essay I have read many times, and it hits the note for me. It runs to over twenty pages in my Penguin edition, but in the extract above almost every sentence contains a gem that could be picked out and applied to today's SNP and camp followers. I particularly I like the bit about Nationalism -v- Patriotism.

"Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism.........By 'patriotism' I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power."

 Here is the riposte to those brain dead "politicians" who cry "anti-Scottish" every time someone wishes to disabuse them of some foolish notion. It is possible to disagree with Nationalists and still be Scottish: in fact it is frequently necessary.

Orwell was a great observer of politics in a turbulent period in history. He was always acute in his judgements and a great pricker of pomposity. Oh for his pen and his wit to puncture the bloated waistcoat of our puffed up First Panjandrum.......