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Entry: Nationalism is What We Need Now--The Case for an "Unpatriotic Conservatism" Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/nationalism_is_what_we_need_now_a_case_for_an_unpatriotic_conservatism#23454 Post contents: Mr. McCarthy: I like that you group anti-interventionism, immigration and protectionism together, as these are the "big three" policy issues, I believe, vis-a-vis globalism, which I find to be the real "threat" today, not nationalism. Mr. Richert: I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying, and I see the value in maintaing the distinctions, but how will maintaining this distinction affect outlook or policy decision? Would you concede that globalism today is a greater danger than nationalism (in terms of self determination)? Although 'nationalism' is a creation of the 19th century, it is but a manifestation of the 'natio', which is an ancient concept. And etymologically, both 'patriotism' and 'nationalism' imply link by blood. In this very limited and traditional sense, both can be virtuous or abused. While I respect the distinction Lukacs makes, I have often wondered what the difference would be in basic policy choices. How would differences between the two play out? How would, say, a type of regional patriotism in the U.S. (e.g. Kentucky patriotism) differ from Danish or French nationalism today? French nationalists do not desire to plant the French flag on Spain; quite the contrary, they want to exit the EU. Which brings me to a larger point, in the face of globalism, what other bulwark is there than nationalism? Is not French nationalism preferable (for the French) than the EU? Would not Danish nationalism be more desirable (for the Danish) than the EU? I'm not asking in jest. It just seems that to confront globalism at some level one requires a sovereign entity (whether it be nation, state, city-state, etc.) that is defined in some way (race/ethnicity, religion, customs, language, geography) that has the ability to exercise self determination. Sent at: 2008 05 16