Nationalism is the life-blood and foundation of the nation-state. As long as there is nationalism, there will be nation-states. Now, the question is will technology weaken nationalism? I know many people will disagree with me, but my opinion is — as a result of the spread of internet, satellite television, electronic and print media; people all over the world are conscious of their identity; they can interact with each other, so they are now able to discover differences between them. People are getting aware of the inequity between states in terms of wealth and resources. Nationalist and populist parties are on the march in Europe and in advanced democracies. Terrorism and immigration are destroying liberal values and liberal institutions like the European Union. When a terrorist attack occurs, natural disasters strike back, economy collapse; people seek help from their countries not from UN or EU. Many people around the world still fight for their countries. Palestinian, Chechens, Kashmiris and many other peoples all over the globe are still fighting for their independence and self-determination. The appeal of the idea of the nation-state is so intense that, other forms of governance will not be able to hold water in the foreseeable future. There is no viable alternative to the Westphalian state system. At the end of the day, when we go back to our home, we are either American, or Chinese, or Indian or something like them. So, the nation-state is here to stay.
Md. Aslam Hossain is a part-time senior editor of The Geopolitics. He is also an entrepreneur. He has earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in International Relations. His focus is on geopolitics and security.
