ABSTRACT
This chapter is not so much about nationalism as it is about nationalism run amok. The chapter is short and anything but sweet. Nationalism can mean pride in one’s national community and the desire to pursue its common good—admirable sentiments to be sure. Unfortunately, there is also the perversion of nationalism, which is chauvinism. Chauvinism, the dark side of nationalism, refers to the zealous, belligerent pursuit of patriotism—the attitude expressed by the phrase “my country right or wrong.” Chauvinism, like classism, racism, and sexism, is another thief of abundance. Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union, was a Soviet nationalist but an antichauvinist. He had something of interest to say about the difference between nationalism and chauvinism: “People must learn to distinguish between true national interests and their nationalistic perversion. Any claims to national exclusiveness are intolerable and insulting, and this also goes for the nation in whose name they are voiced. … one should first of all combat one’s ‘own’ nationalism and chauvinism, and this should be done primarily by members of the nationality concerned” (Gorbachev 1987, 286–287).
