Can Nationalism Go Too Far? The Case of U.S. Minutemen:

Yes. I think this a classic case drawn from the dark side of Nationalism. I would care less for the Minuteman Project since clearly this is a right leaning political outfit. However, the larger issue is whether this group and many others like it can lay a claim to nationalism or patriotism for that matter; I think they can, and that is where I see a problem.

The many problems of nationalism include an ideology often modeled on exclusionism, exceptionalism and xenophobia. These groups fit this model perfectly. I remember years ago when Bosnian refugees were settled in this country without much controversy. But just a few years later, the settling of Somalia refugees caused uproar from similar rightist groups. So, you have two identical situations with completely different reactions. I would argue that the Somalians were simply seen as different and hence the sentiment that “they” needed to be excluded from “us.”

And when it comes to the Mexican border, those crossing illegally (or legally) elicit all sorts of emotions that often include xenophobia. For instance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is just as concerned about illegal crossings from the Canadian border as they are about the Mexican border, yet you hardly hear of any controversial measures such as building walls or “community” watch groups in the north. There is a certain stereo-type of an illegal immigrant that is wedged deep in the American psyche which highlights many salient features that never seem to blend in. The text puts it better, that we “ignore our many and manifest similarities and perceptually divide ourselves into [groups]” (Rourke, 2008).

The human race has always been on the move in the search of a better life. That is why the native Indians crossed present-day Alaska from northeastern Asia around 12,000 to 15,000 years ago, during the glaciation of the Ice Age. A few thousand years later, Europeans followed with their own valid reasons…you know the rest of the story. The point is that we have always moved to better pastures. And who knows, a few hundred years from now we’ll all  probably move back to Africa after ruining this place with over-mining, over-crowding, and pollution. My only hope is that our fellow Africans will let us back in.

NOTE:

Except where noted, the ideas in this article are adopted from a course text book (below) for general discussion purposes.

        Rourke, T. John. 2008.  International Politics on the World Stage. 12th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.