Nationalism. The love of a country? The love of your country. Above all others, because you were born there, or your antecedents originated in that geography.
More than that. A belief that your country is better than others. Exceptionalism. You are special because your country is special. Yet that can’t be right, because around the world are continents where countries abut each other, and the people intermingle, through work, social lives and families intertwine. They can’t all be the best.
An emotion. Replicated in the support of a team or individual in sport, often but not exclusively from your country. Look at Ireland and the support for English Premier League teams.
But.
Nationalism is disastrous. It is the root cause of many wars as countries fought for wealth and power. It is the setting up of one set of ordinary people against another, ususally at the behest of a government, democratic or not. Who dies? Not the leaders. Not the ones that pushed the buttons to go to war. They are fine and dandy. But they have used nationalism as the driving force to get people to die! To die for their country!
Nationalism reached its extremes in Germany in 1933. You will know the rest.
The nation state as a system has survived, and we see nationalism still being the fuel to drive Trump, Johnson and the populist right around the world. We still see countries fighting each other.
Yet here’s a thing. In Northern Ireland the nationalist community have a more natural attachment to left wing politics. Not necessarily extreme, but there nevertheless. They are way more likely to be engaged in social politics, in liberal economics, and in a socialist view. One is the Social Democratic and Labour Party. Another has socialism ingrained in its history. But they are nationalists.
Nationalism is right wing. When seen by Nationalists, British nationalism is an anaethema to modern life. The exceptionalism that was revealed by the Brexit vote created a flood of sneering comment about the UK. The Orange flying of flags in NOrthern Ireland is seen as idiotic. The Ulster Prod’s deire to be British is absurd to those that support a United Ireland.
But there you have it. A United Ireland. A nationalist dream. With all the same elements of any other form of nationalism. Flags flown, but they are green white and gold so that is okay. Exceptionalism? Surely not?
Speak to any Irish person and their list of exceptional things about Ireland may be different from the UK, but they are there. Just like every other nation state.
Sure isn’t Ireland the friendliest place on Earth? Aren’t the Irish the best drinkers? Is the English spoken in Dublin more literary than anywhere else on the planet? Is the scenery not the most beautiful? A sure isn’t the craic mighty? There is a sense of Irishness that was endorsed to the point of national satisfaction as Brexit encouraged more people to seek an Irish passport. “They want to be like us.”
Are Irish people less nationalistic than others? There may actually be a case that they are more so! The Irish in the US after many generations retain their exceptionalism, parading it on St Patrick’s Day like no other nation.
And when we come to the demand for a United Ireland, what else is it than nationalism, writ large. It is called nationalism. The clue is in there. The same people who will reject right wing nationalism will endorse and dream of their own. What, it’s different because it is Irish? Is that not the most exceptional idea of all?
But I don’t like nationalism. I have it in me. I support Ireland and Northern Ireland. I will talk up our island and most of the people, but there is not much I like about the countries. The Northern Ireland government that is still split in two by hatred? Thats a result of nationalism. A southern Ireland government that until very recently (and so recently that it is not a justification for Irish Nationalism) was in the thrall of a church, that covered up the most heinous crimes against children? Not much there to be proud of.
But nationalism enables people to sweep such things under the carpet. To push aside all the criticism in favour of blind support of a nation state, that has very litte care of those supporters.
It is why I would love to see Northern Ireland have a joint sovereignty, Ireland and the UK. A place where the very difference in ‘nationality’ is a positive. Where having two distinct sets of people creates a dynamic creative environment.
And we take right wing, because there is no other, nationalism for sport, and push it out of politics.
Thinking about Things... 
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