ABSTRACT
It has previously been suggested (in Chapter 3), that the political character of nationalism might depend primarily upon whether it is constructed by political élites on a reactive basis, or is internally generated on the basis of civic pride or ethnocultural affinity. It was also suggested that the former reactive type of nationalism is most likely when it is articulated by marginalised classes, and resonates with societies which are undergoing some ‘crisis of self-confidence’. Such reactive nationalism was depicted as illiberal both in its demonising of specified threats or enemies, and also in the likelihood that it would take a collectivist form, rather than an individualist one, so as to facilitate an authoritarian mobilisation against such threats.
