Dr. Phil Kronk: The psychology of nationalism

Dr. Phil Kronk | Guest columnist

“Nationalism is an infantile thing. It is the measles of mankind.” Albert Einstein “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; Nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.” Charles de Gaulle “You know what I am? I’m a nationalist. OK. I’m a nationalist. Nationalist!” Donald Trump

Nationalism has become a dominant force in American politics with President Donald Trump. But what is nationalism?

The best and simplest explanation for me comes from the 1993 book "Blood and Belonging: Journeys into the New Nationalism" by Michael Ignatieff.

First, nationalism is a way of looking at yourself that comes from the identity only provided to you by your country. Your political, cultural and moral identities come from the nation to which you belong.

Trump attends World War I event in which Macron decries 'nationalism' French President Emmanual Macron delivers remarks on the armistice that ended WWI, and decries the 'nationalism' that he claims is resurfacing.

Ignatieff writes that “there is no other form of belonging -- to your family, work or friends -- that is secure if you do not have a nation to protect you.”

Not everyone in a country believes this. “Our true nationality is mankind,” said H.G. Wells. And Mark Twain made a distinction between country and government, (“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”)

The reason why so many fear the development of nationalism in one’s own country is because they remember what nationalism did to Nazi Germany with Hitler during the Second World War.

Secondly, nationalism brings both a desire for greatness, as well as a fear of and hatred towards any outside group that would thwart that greatness. Soon a need to be protected from these outsiders grows.

Last week, Trump tweeted that the Mueller investigation was “a disgrace to the Nation.”

“It is the human condition that to wish for the greatness of one’s fatherland is to wish evil to one’s neighbors,” said Voltaire.

'Nazi go home!' chants crowd to white nationalists More than 500 people at rally for immigrants drown out white nationalist counter-protester.

Trump, his followers and his slogan, “Make America Great Again,” are a form of dangerous nationalism, "protecting you" from foreigners who want those jobs that you don’t really want, from unfair trade agreements against countries that make things that you really want to buy cheaper, from caravans of people of different skin colors who make you uncomfortable and don’t speak your language, and from children who must be imprisoned and separated from their mothers because their parents entered the country in the "wrong" way.

Third, as we have learned throughout history, nationalistic fears soon turn to hatred, and hatred to violence. If a nation gives you an identity, it could demand sacrifice, as well as the use of force and violence. Armies will be sent to the border for our protection.

In such a setting, as Umberto Eco said, “the meaning of identity is now based on hatred, on hatred for those who are not the same.”

Trump: 'nationalist' means I love the country President Donald Trump told Fox News Channel's The Ingraham Angle he's going to Pittsburgh to visit officers and others wounded on Saturday. He also defended the word nationalist and said pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc was insane for a long time. (Oct. 30)

Nationalistic countries use fear to turn hatred into violence. They begin to think of the outsider with metaphors that increase the level of their fear (thereby validating their need for force and violence).

These metaphors include those that use disease (infecting the nation), dangerousness (weakening the nation’s borders) and evil (increased crime, rapes, drugs) and use science in a dangerous way (the genetic belief that the blood of the citizens is being diluted by an inferior race).

In our country, nationalism shows itself in the rise of white supremacy movements.

Trump denies being Nationalist is being racist President Donald Trump fought back against the notion that calling himself a nationalist means that he and the Republican party supports 'white nationalist." (Nov. 7)

The United States is built on lofty human and Godly ideals of equality, justice and freedom. Nationalism destroys democracies and gives birth to totalitarian forms of government.

Response and resistance will come from our clergy, our religions and from the younger generation, from those who are true patriots -- and from those with a moral compass --needed to steer our ship of state back to the land of the free and the home of the brave.

In the harbor of New York, the Statue of Liberty stands as an icon of freedom, offering rest and safety to those tired and poor immigrants who yearn to breathe free. My grandparents saw it in the mist at the turn of the last century. May others feel her comforting gaze, no matter where they enter this country.

Phil Kronk, M.S., Ph.D. is a child and adult clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. He writes a weekly, online column on mental health for the Knoxville News Sentinel’s website, knoxnews. He can be reached at 865-330-3633.