ABSTRACT
I shall start this paper by defining 'nationalism' as I intend it here. On the basis of common sense and various simple dictionary definitions, I take it to mean, at the level ot the individual, perceiving one's nation as a distinct and independent entity, and having sufficient enthusiasm about it to be prepared to defend it and to work towards its enhancement. I take it as axiomatic that nationalism cannot exist without a strong sense of identification with the nation, which of course in turn is predicated upon having a nation. It may seem like stating the obvious to point out the centrality of nationhood to any discussion of nationalism, but it is fundamentally important to consider just what is a nation. Opening the dictionary again, in this case the Concise Oxford,'nation' is defined as: 'A large number of people of mainly common descent, language, history, etc., usually inhabiting a territory bounded by defined limits and forming a society under one government."
