CSS 2017 Solved Essay | Being a Minority is a Fate No One wants. Can Nationalism be Really Inclusive?
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Outline
1-Introduction
Although shared citizenship, political beliefs, and an obligation to a common civic identity unite a nation under inclusive nationalism, other elements such as different races, languages, religions, and traditions destroy a nation’s unity and only allow exclusive nationalism to exist.
2-Understanding Nationalism and its types
- ✓Inclusive Nationalism
- ✓Exclusive Nationalism
3-Relationship between Minorities and Both Forms of Nationalism
4-Historical Context of Nationalism
5-Challenges of Nationalism for Minorities
- ✓Economic Inequality
- Evidence: Nathaniel Hendren, in his research paper ‘Race and Economic Opportunity in the United States: An Intergenerational Perspective,’ explains that African Americans continue to face higher unemployment rates and lower median incomes compared to their white counterparts even today.
- ✓Cultural Loss
- Evidence: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released ‘Canada’s Residential Schools: The History, Part 1’ report in 2015, detailing how Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and placed in boarding schools where they were prohibited from speaking their native languages and practicing their cultures.
- ✓Human Rights Violations
- Evidence: The report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, established by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018, provides details on “clearance operations” that began in August 2017, involving mass killings, rape, and arson against Muslims, leading to the displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya to neighbouring Bangladesh.
- ✓Lack of Representation
- Evidence: Norris and Lovenduski’s Research (1995) on electoral systems and minority representation highlights how electoral structures can perpetuate majority rule and hinder minority candidates from gaining seats in legislative bodies.
- ✓Religious subjugation
- Evidence: According to the International Commission of Jurists (2019), blasphemy laws in Pakistan have been particularly contentious, often used to target religious minorities and dissenting voices, leading to violence, imprisonment, and social ostracization.
- ✓Exclusion from National Narratives:
- Evidence: According to the Human Rights Watch (2021) report, Kurdish identity and language have historically been suppressed in favor of a homogeneous Turkish national identity, with nationalist policies restricting Kurdish cultural expression and political representation
6-Why Nationalism cannot ever truly Embrace Inclusivity?
- ✓Existence of multiple Religions
- Evidence: Case Study of India’s Secular Nationalism
- ✓Racism
- Evidence: Case study of the Motives behind Hitler’s Genocide
- ✓Political Representation
- Evidence: Case Study of Pakistan’s Division
- ✓National Narratives
- Evidence: Case Study of France’s Hijab Ban in Schools and Colleges
- ✓Cultural Assimilation
- Evidence: Case Study of China’s Uighur Re-education Camps
- ✓Ethnic Tensions
- Evidence: Case Study of the Rwandan Genocide
- ✓Language barriers
- Evidence: Case Study of Sri Lanka Civil War on language
7-On what Ground do opponents believe that Nationalism can be inclusive?
- ✓Counter Argument: South Africa is frequently used as a model for inclusive nationalism because it recognizes national diversity. Its constitution assures the rights of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity or language, and has eleven official languages. Therefore, nickname as Rainbow Nation.
- Refutation: Having 11 national languages has not increased diversity; instead, it has divided an entire nation into 11 conflicting groups, preventing inclusive nationalism. Furthermore, despite their progressive framework, South Africa continually struggles with inclusive nationalism because of its past of apartheid imperialism, which persists to this day.
8-Critical Analysis
9-Conclusion
In every society, minorities have to go through several challenges ranging from social marginalization to the struggle for recognition and equality. They face systemic barriers created by the majority, which hinder their access to equal opportunities in education, employment, and political representation. Their cultural habits, regional languages, and even identities get lost in the shadow of majority power holders. Despite all these challenges, inclusive nationalism offers a potential path toward social cohesion by emphasizing shared citizenship, common political beliefs, and a unified civic identity. For example, inclusive nationalism combines different communities into an organized national fabric, developing a sense of belonging and shared duty in all people. However, other elements, such as distinct races, languages, religions, and traditions, can destroy a nation’s unity and allow only exclusive nationalism to exist. For instance, the French government has banned hijab across the country, causing outrage since wearing hijab for a devout Muslim woman is a life-or-death situation, as Islam has instructed them to do even if it means losing their lives. Moreover, it was racism that drove Adolf Hitler to murder six million Jews because he believed in the superiority of the Aryan race and considered Jews inferior. In conclusion, the goal of inclusive nationalism is essential for creating societies that value diversity while promoting togetherness. However, the constant obstacles provided by systemic barriers and exclusionary actions remind us that achieving this balance is impractical in the contemporary world.
Understanding the term, nationalism is an ideology that focuses on the interests, culture, and identity of a community’s members. It has significantly shaped modern nations and continues to have an impact on world politics. Nationalism may take many forms, each with its traits and consequences, and it is usually divided into two groups. First, exclusive nationalism is based on common ancestry, cultural legacy, language, and, in many cases, religion. It promotes the ethnicity of the nation’s members. Second, inclusive nationalism is based on common citizenship, political beliefs, and devotion to the country’s institutions and laws, regardless of ethnicity.
Analyzing the relationship of both types of nationalism with minorities, since inclusive nationalism is based on civic and political ideas, minorities are granted equal political and civil rights. And anti-discrimination policies are implemented to ensure minority representation. Further, cultural diversity is valued and fostered to preserve cultural identities, and nations celebrate each culture to represent the various cultures that exist inside the country. Thus, educational and job opportunities are distributed fairly, regardless of ethnicity. Minorities in exclusive nationalism, on the other hand, have access to limited political and civic opportunities. Cultures of minorities that oppose the majority in exclusive nationalism are frequently absorbed and marginalized. So, minorities suffer a high level of discrimination in jobs and education, which has led to conflict and violence.
Throughout history, nationalism has played a significant part in establishing communities and political states worldwide. Nationalism was a prominent factor in the French Revolution, emphasizing the unity and ambition of a nation-state. During the period of European colonialism, nationalism was used to justify the exploitation and enslavement of indigenous peoples. The imposition of colonial languages, legal systems, and cultural norms are all that remain, and people continue to suffer as a result of them. Furthermore, nationalist movements in the post-colonial era have led to discriminatory policies and the elimination of indigenous languages and cultures.
Under the umbrella of nationalism, minorities endure several hurdles and are always in trouble. The majority view people of other races as inferior to them and act in such a way as to maintain this inferiority. In addition to obtaining less employment, minorities also have to deal with economic inequality. Nathaniel Hendren, in his research paper ‘Race and Economic Opportunity in the United States: An Intergenerational Perspective,’ explains that African Americans continue to face higher unemployment rates and lower median incomes compared to their white counterparts even today. These findings indicate that living in poverty is not the fate of the minority but rather a miserable state created by those in authority. Thus, it becomes clear that minorities face constant economic disparity due to systemic discrimination that aims to make them inferior.
Furthermore, nationalism suppresses culture, which is a person’s identity. Minorities have to abandon traditions that contradict the state’s narrative. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released ‘Canada’s Residential Schools: The History, Part 1’ report in 2015, detailing how Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and placed in boarding schools where they were prohibited from speaking their native languages and practising their cultures. This study highlights the difficulties that minorities have in maintaining their culture. Thus, a minority has to reject his heritage and praise another to which they do not belong.
Moreover, in cases where the extremists are in the majority, minorities suffer grave consequences since radicals rarely hold opposing group ideas. Often, the situation becomes unbearable for them, and even fundamental human rights are not granted. The report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, established by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018, provides details on “clearance operations” that began in August 2017. These operations involved mass killings, rape, and arson against Muslims, leading to the displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya to neighbouring Bangladesh. Thus, minorities can never live in peace if they have opposing opinions and live a nomadic lifestyle inside their homeland.
Additionally, nationalism has always provided an excuse for the majority to continue repressing minorities to preserve a constituency that benefits them and influences decisions based on their preferences. For instance, Norris and Lovenduski’s (1995) study on electoral systems and minority representation demonstrates how electoral institutions may maintain majority control while preventing minority candidates from attaining legislative positions. Despite population transitions in the United States, racial and ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in Congress and state legislatures, indicating systematic inequities in political recruiting and election systems. This lack of representation not only diminishes minorities’ principles but also creates adverse circumstances for them. Thus, minorities are frequently discriminated against unfairly in political systems.
Likewise, religious freedom is a significant concern for every individual since it determines how he wants to live his life and how his entire environment operates. However, the dominant religion in a nation crushes every other religion. It serves as a principle for all others, and if anybody resists him, they will function as a factor in punishing those who defy them. According to the International Commission of Jurists (2019), blasphemy laws in Pakistan have been particularly contentious, often used to target religious minorities and dissenting voices, leading to violence, imprisonment, and social ostracization. Thus, a minority will not have religious freedom if the majority opposes them.
Also national narratives are typically formed by dominant cultural and historical viewpoints and frequently ignore the required doctrine of a minority within a nationalist setting. Nations develop narratives that assist a greater group rather than supporting smaller specific groupings. According to the Human Rights Watch (2021) report, Kurdish identity and language have historically been suppressed in favour of a homogeneous Turkish national identity, with nationalist policies restricting Kurdish cultural expression and political representation. This report demonstrates how nationalist ideologies may impose a single national narrative that ignores the distinctions and diversity of minority experiences, creating social tensions and alienation. Thus, many minorities are excluded from the larger national narrative.
Moving ahead to the case studies that demonstrate that inclusive nationalism is not achievable, India is one of few states that openly prides itself on being a secular state, has failed to achieve this aim, as seen by several examples in which the majority religion that is Hinduism has always held the upper hand over minority groups such as Sikhs and Muslims. The 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, where thousands of Sikhs were killed, and the 2002 Gujarat riots, where extremists targeted Muslims, highlight the failures of India in protecting religious minorities. Human Rights Watch Report – India (2022) has documented instances of communal violence and discrimination against religious minorities in India, including Muslims and Sikhs. They have even criticized the Indian government for insufficient protection of minority communities and have called for accountability for perpetrators of violence. Thus, the rise of Hindu nationalist sentiments and the politicization of religion by major political parties have made India an exclusive Hindu state, eradicating the possibility of inclusive Nationalism.
Additionally, Adolf Hitler’s desire to exterminate an entire religious group arose from his belief in the Aryan race’s superiority over all others, especially Jews. His vision for Germany includes establishing a homeland only for Aryans. This racist perspective has fueled discriminatory laws, segregation policies, and ultimately, the Holocaust, which resulted in the killing of six million Jews via ghettos, forced labour, and eventually concentration camps, showing the extremes to which racial hate and exclusive nationalist fanaticism may lead. Thus, Hitler’s principles of ‘Exclusive Nationalism’ have shaped Nazi Germany’s policies, resulting in an adverse and catastrophic impact on millions of lives.
Along with that, France, considering itself another secular state and wishing to foster inclusive nationality, has failed to comply with each religion at a time. For example, France’s ban on hijab in schools and colleges has sparked an argument between Muslim populations and the government, with Muslims believing it is a move against them. However, France said this action was done to reduce individual disparities and strengthen a secular state. Nonetheless, they are stuck in a loop: if they allow it, Muslims would have their particular representation in people. And if they ban it, people would consider it exclusive nationalism because inclusive nationalism allows everyone to live on their terms. Thus, inclusive nationalism is impossible as individuals are tied to faiths, ethnicities, or other affiliations contradicting one another.
In the same vein, two regions of Pakistan, founded on the same ideology, beliefs, and ideas, have been split apart because two opposing parties want to hold power simultaneously. Their egos were so large that they chose to divide a state rather than live in unity. Tensions grew when the Awami League, based in East Pakistan, won a landslide victory during the 1970 general elections with an absolute majority in the National Assembly. However, the ruling authorities in West Pakistan refused to give up power, worsening the political crisis. The circumstances immediately sparked a liberation fight, resulting in Bangladesh’s independence. Thus, for a country to live in harmony, its political leaders need to be on the same page with one another.
Moreover, the most pressing issue in today’s globe is the establishment of a Chinese re-education camp in the Xinjiang area, which primarily targets Uighur Muslims. These camps were established to assimilate Muslims into the majority Han Chinese society while eliminating their own cultural identity. The Chinese government has defended these actions by citing the necessity for nationalism to combat extremism and create regional social stability. However, according to Amnesty International’s 2021 report, widespread confinement of the Uighur is a serious violation of human rights and serves as a means to eradicate a whole culture. Thus, minorities with distinct cultures from the majority will serve as a source of disagreement, making it hard to create inclusive nationalism.
Furthermore, the Rwandan genocide in 1994 is one of the deadliest examples of ethnic violence in history. Extremist Hutu militias executed a genocide against the Tutsi ethnic minority, killing 800,000 people in 100 days. This genocide is the result of long-standing ethnic conflicts, amplified by colonial authority and post-independence political manipulation. Exclusive nationalism was at the root of the genocide, as media sources were used to incite hatred against the Tutsi community, providing a gruesome example of how exclusive nationalism can be utilized to justify mass crimes. Thus, it is very hard for two different ethnic groups to coexist with one another.
Similarly, the language issue has played a crucial role in the conflict between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. The source of the tension is the Official Language Act of 1956, which established Sinhala as the country’s exclusive language. Tamils who lived mainly in the northern and eastern regions saw it as an attack on their culture, triggering major riots. The protests eventually developed into a civil war from 1983 until 2009. Thus, various languages serve as a kind of identification for individuals, and having numerous languages can lead to conflicts, allowing only exclusive nationalism to thrive.
Conversely, opponents have always claimed that inclusive nationalism is possible if we accept every ethnicity, religion, and language. As evidence, opponents point to countries like South Africa, also called the Rainbow Nation, whose constitution includes eleven languages, recognizes diversity, and guarantees equal rights to all people regardless of caste, colour, or creed. However, after examining the inside situation, it is discovered that only English-speaking and African people receive work while the remainder are unemployed. And having 11 national languages has not increased diversity. Instead, it has divided an entire nation into 11 conflicting groups, preventing inclusive nationalism. Moreover, economic gaps are extreme, with the majority of black people living in poverty while some white elites own the majority of the country’s wealth. Thus, inclusive nationalism is only achievable in writing. It cannot exist in real life as individuals differ from one another based on their affiliations.
Critically analyzing, no one wants to become a minority, yet demographic factors and social dynamics lead some individuals or groups to minority positions. This phenomenon is explained by demographic reports from the United Nations (2021), which highlight global population trends, showing how certain groups may decrease relative size over time due to migration, fertility rates, and socioeconomic changes. For example, in rapidly urbanizing areas, native communities or rural populations often face challenges as they become minorities in urban centres dominated by different cultures and lifestyles. It demands fostering inclusive societies that respect and protect the rights and identities of all individuals, irrespective of their numerical representation. Amitabh Bachan stated,
“Cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature.”
In conclusion, it is really hard to achieve inclusive nationalism in today’s world. Even though this idea is about bringing people together by underscoring shared citizenship and common political beliefs, many barriers and exclusionary actions still make it challenging to make it happen. Examples from history and today, like the suppression of minority cultures, unfair economic differences, and not enough minority groups being represented in politics, show that exclusive nationalism often wins. It is tough for minorities to keep their cultures and get the same opportunities as others, which makes it hard to create truly inclusive societies. On top of that, extremist ideas and making a big deal out of peoples’ differences can make these divisions even worse. So, while it is a good idea to have inclusive nationalism, it is really tough to make it happen because of all these challenges. Having diverse groups living together peacefully is still just an idea in today’s world.
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