Ethnonationalism

The term ethnonationalism refers to a particular strain of nationalism in which the referent object is an ethnic group. This ethnic group, or rather its leaders, makes demands based on dissatisfaction with the existing political arrangement. Such demands can involve the pursuit of statehood, although more limited demands, such as cultural autonomy, are also encompassed by the term. Ethnonationalism has been an important and powerful force during the last couple of decades, particularly after the end of the Cold War. Its potency has been illustrated in the outbreak of violent conflicts and the creation of new states, but it can have serious implications for democratic governance even in milder forms.

Ethnonationalism is closely associated with the work of Walker Connor, who argues that nationalism and ethnicity are so closely intertwined that we should use the term ethnonationalism rather than merely nationalism to avoid confusing it with loyalty to the state. Connor further emphasizes the psychological and subjective elements of nationalism and the continued importance of its political implications. However, in common academic and nonacademic usage, ethnonationalism is often used to denote a specific form of nationalism—a form of nationalism that is associated with an ethnic group that does not presently have its own state, but is politically mobilized to pursue this goal. In addition, it is often implied that this form of nationalism has a strong irrational or even primordial element. More importantly, this form of nationalism is closely linked with politics; the essence is that a political goal is pursued and this goal is not static, but will likely change over time. This development in the stated goal of an ethnonational movement will be strongly influenced by both reactions by the dominant group, or the state, to which the demands are addressed, as well as by the dynamics of competition within the ethnic group: Do hardliners or moderates emerge victorious?

During the last couple of decades, there has been an upsurge of ethnonational activities. This has showed that ethnonationalism is a global force that is not limited to specific, less-developed parts of the world, but is also of great importance in the heart of Western Europe, such as in Northern Ireland and the Basque Country. The end of the Cold War, and the power vacuum created by the fall of communism, created powerful ethnonationalist movements in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, which led to the break-up [Page 287]of multiethnic federations and the outbreak of a bloody war in the former Yugoslavia. Despite this upsurge in ethnonationalism and the accompanying growing academic interest in its dynamics, little agreement exists about its underlying causes and about the best ways to prevent its violent manifestations.