The Nationalism of the Affluent

Abstract

This chapter discusses the origin of the second kind of nationalism. It analyzes how members of minority nations are lured to question the existing national/political status quo when political power is eroded and the state faces a legitimization crisis. Yet, unlike the nationalism of the vulnerable that seeks to strengthen the nation-state, separatist nationalism wishes to seize the moment and loosen existing political frameworks. The chapter then elaborates the aims of separatism to recruit the support of all fellow nationals and form a cross-class coalition. In this sense, it is an inclusive kind of nationalism that labors to make its reference group as large and prosperous as possible. The chapter then turns to explore the power of utilitarian arguments to determine the construction of future states. Ultimately, it analyzes how the European Union led to the reemergence of small nations' nationalism. The chapter notes that today's separatist nationalism is the nationalism of small affluent nations that were oppressed by the threshold principle and were excluded from the national discourse because of utilitarian considerations.