Asia's Nationalisms

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Nationalism has become a widely used concept in political science, and yet there is no consensus on its definition. For some, it reflects simply a frame for human identity, a notional nation to call home. For others, nationalism represents the mobilization of individuals around the cause of the nation, and can have a far bolder intention. In today’s global politics, nationalism is often seen as a reaction to, and hindrance of a globalizing world. In some instances, nationalism is seen as globalism’s antidote, while in other instances it reflects a desire to repel or resist the transformative impact of a world increasingly intruding into national communities. In Asia, this concept has had many incarnations. Largely associated with the arrival of Western imperialism, the nation-state seemed an imposter in Asia especially to those who had been educated in the West but who sought to give voice to their culture’s identity. From the early decades of the twentieth century, Asia’s leaders – its scholars, its politicians and its military commanders – have deliberated on this concept of the nation and of their nation’s identity in the world. Nationalism in the early twenty-first century Asia seems to be organized around the conflict that redrew the boundaries of Asian societies, and the balance of power that it fostered in its wake. History, and its reimagining, provides ample fodder for Asia’s contemporary nationalist impulses. This course will explore the various episodes and advocates of nationalism in Asia. Beginning with some of the early reactions on this modern concept of the nation and whether it suited their own societies, we will explore the evolution and reframing of nationalism across Asia.