Political Science and International Relations

"Nationalism is not a mere political programme but a way of life like religion." (Aurobindo Ghose). UPSC 2014 Paper 1A Qn 1c Aurobindo Ghose's statement that “Nationalism is not a mere political programme but a way of life like religion” reflects his unique philosophical approach to nationalism, which transcends its conventional political understanding. For Aurobindo, nationalism was a spiritual force, deeply rooted in India's civilizational ethos and a vehicle for collective self-realization. This perspective situates nationalism as a struggle for political freedom and a holistic vision encompassing culture, ethics, and spirituality. Nationalism as a Way of Life  - Aurobindo’s conception of nationalism was deeply influenced by his understanding of India’s spiritual heritage. He viewed the nation not as a mere geopolitical entity but as a living spiritual organism — Bharat Mata — embodying the collective consciousness of its people. In this framework, nationalis...

Approaches to the study of Nationalism - Gellner defines nationalism as primarily a political principle that holds that the political unit and the national unit should be congruent . Nationalist sentiment is a feeling of anger aroused by the violation of the principle, or the feeling of satisfaction aroused by its fulfillment. Nationalism has been approached from a wide variety of perspectives - 1. Liberal Humanitarian Approach to Nationalism - This approach laid stress on the humanitarian and cultural aspects of nationalism.  According to Herder, mankind is divided by nature and by reason into separate nationalities and it is through cultivation of particular genius of the nationality that both the individual and humanity as a whole make progress towards perfection. Herder emphasized the cultural part of Nationalism. Nationalism for him is apolitical . Fichte believed in economic nationalism . Unless a nation becomes economically self-sufficient, it could not survive as a...