Mindanao State University

College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Marawi City 9700, Philippines

HISTORY DEPARTMENT

GEC 109- LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL

MODULE 3: NATION AND NATIONALISM

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the definition, nature, similarities and differences of Nation, Nationalism, State and Nation State.
2. Appreciate the significance of the development of nationalism in relevance to nation-building.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in discourse relating nationalism to Philippine issues at the present.

CONTENT
DEFINING NATION, NATIONALISM, STATE AND NATION STATE
There is no comprehensive definition or theory of nation and nationalism. But from social scientist, we get the ideas about
it. Accordingly, a nation is a stable political community of people formed on the basis of a common culture, language,
territory, history and other practices such as religion, ethnicity and shared goals. In layman’s term, it is what we usually
mean when we say, people. In summary, Nation, State and Nation-State are used interchangeably but the fact is these
words have differences. These terms are further elaborated below along with the definition of nationalism.
 Nationalism is the condition of mind, feeling, or sentiments of a group of people living in a well-defined geographic
area, sharing a common culture, attached to common traditions and sometimes but not all the times, having a common
religion. It becomes a combined political, social and economic systems characterized by the promoting the interests of
a particular nation or ethnic group mainly with the aim of gaining and maintaining self-governance or full sovereignty
over the groups homeland. The political ideology holds the concept of self-determination and that a nation should
govern itself free from unwanted outside interference.
On the other hand, State is a political entity that wields sovereignty over a defined territory. The key word here is
territory. It is what we usually mean when we say country. It has the four elements such as sovereignty, people, and
government, in addition to territory.
Nation-State on the other hand is a State, a fusion of the elements of nation (people) and state (territory/country). One
may think of it as synonymous to “people with country.” It is a state with no specific national entity or ethnic group
dominant than others. People live integrated in one state. This is usually the condition of most modern countries. If you
are thinking of what are nation states, try to ponder on this idea: All modern states are a nation state and all modern
states are a multinational states.

DISCOURSES AND DEBATES ON NATIONALISM: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW.

Nation and Nationalism may be old as concepts but most historians believe that these terms are relatively new or recent
concepts born in the early 1500 and became a big deal in the 19th century, specifically in Europe. As an overview, dating back
to the 16th century, people already have states and sovereignty or control is explained by divine rights, kings and the royalty
ruled and started to build and strengthen states which later on become the nation state that we now have. Jean Bodin’s theory
of state explained that sovereignty cannot be divided, it must necessarily reside in one person or group of persons. Changes
and developments took place after the French revolution which had domino effects all over Europe, intellectuals begun to
challenge established ideas on state and eventually moved to unify the people within the state to build the classical state into
nation state. Revolutionary ideas highly influenced the world as we know it, examples were the ideas that sovereignty is not
from above but down below, from the people. Foremost of these thinkers were John Locke (1632-1704) and Jean Jacques
Rousseau (1712-78), they propagated that the state is based upon a contract or agreement with its people, a social contract
through which they entrust such powers to a government as maybe necessary for common protection. Thereafter, a state
must operate with the consent of the nation, the people. And the world wars saw the creation and rebuilding of more
nationstate. Thus nationalism emerge in a nation-state, or Nationalism give birth to the modern state, either way, its formation
and of national identity had a connection with the establishment of modern state or nation-state. Nationalism then plays an
integral role in the maintenance of a nation, and national identity. It is linked to ideas that a nation should be able to control
its government and all forms of production and must always act with the best interest of the nation. And is most of the times
linked to Patriotism or Love of Country. At present, it continues to connote positive and negative meanings.
To better understand the concept of a nation, here are the three theories on the root of the Nation:

• To Primordialism, national identity has always existed and nations have “ethnic cores”, people are brought together
by a sense of similarity in their race, language, religion. We are born into a particular community and therefore, it
is natural to form a bond with that community. Therefore, an “us” and “them” exist among people.

• To Modernist explanation, nation and nationalism are products of the modern condition and are shaped by
modernity. Nationalism is a political project. These concepts are necessary products of the social structure and
culture, as a result of capitalism, industrialization, secularization, urbanization, and bureaucratization. It arises due
the pursuit of these politico-economic interest.

• The Constructivist Approach, the third and influential theory, maintains that nationalism is socially constructed and
imagine by people who identify with a group. As Benedict Anderson argues that nations are “imagined political
communities, and an imagined is both inherently limited and sovereign.” Imagined because members of a
community cannot all know each other but they have conscious solidarity as community. With this, comes a “deep
horizontal comradeship” that maintains co-existence and even inspires people to serve, fight and die for country.
Anderson also enumerates the importance of the Media in the construction of nations, he relates that the media:
1. Fostered unified fields of communication which allowed the millions of people in a community to know each
other through printed materials and be connected and identified with others as one people or community. 2.
Standardized languages that enhanced the feelings of nationalism and community; and 3) maintained
communication through a few languages widely used in printing press which endured through time.
NATION AND NATIONALISM IN PHILIPPINE CONTEXT

In the country, the issue on Nationalism is definitely a continuing process, thus a challenge to its youth and people. Today,
more than ever in all periods of our history, there must be re dedication to these ideals in the building of our country. The study
of heroes hopes to constantly inspire the nation. The expression of Filipino nationalism was first seen in the first revolution in
Asia led by Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan. This event was seen by historians as a significant result of the Propaganda
years, notably, attributed to Rizal and his contemporaries in their hopes to reform the Spanish administration of the Philippines
in the late 19th century. Henceforth, the ancestors of the Filipinos, like our heroes, also developed in time this consciousness
of a one people and an identity.
Foremost of the Philippine scholars to give us a local idea of Nationalism was Zeus Salazar. We should also remember
indigenous intellectual movements like Sekolohiyang Pilipino and Bagong kasaysayan who introduced ideas on Kapwa and
Bayan. Filipinos sees the importance of Kapwa in Social relations. They give importance to our affinity with one another as
manifested in local phrases such as “ibang tao” and “di ibang tao.” To build social relations, the Kapwa concepts helps in
forming unity and solidarity in a community. This is why, Filipinos hear and use notions such as “pakikipagkapwa,”
“pakikisama,” “pakikipag ugnay.”
In the country, this indigenous understanding of Nation took a further development under the Bagong Kasaysayan led by
Zeus Salazar, who popularized the perspective known as Pantayong Pananaw. This introduced the concepts of bayan and
banua. The Bayan is an important Filipino concept on community. While Banua, is an old word meaning the territory where
people actually live. These words represent the local idea on spatial and imagined communities. The pantayong pananaw
further propagates that as a result of the Filipino colonial experience, there exist in the country, a great cultural divide that
separated the elite (nación) and the ordinary masses (bayan). A challenge to the idea of Filipino Nationalism.
In conclusion, Filipino nationalism persists, impacted by colonialism, wars, dictatorship, struggles for development, and
globalization. With this lesson on Nationalism, try to know and understand how historical events contributed to Jose Rizal’s
understanding of Nation and Nationalism.
Guide Questions

1. How did the development of nationalism influence the conception of the Philippines as a nation-state?
2. Nationalism basically arrived in the Philippines in 19th century, if Rizal was born on a different era would he still be our
national hero?
3. Nationalism is linked to patriotism in loving our country. In relation to that, do you consider yourself nationalistic? If yes,
how did you show your love for your country?

References:

1. Agoncillo, Teodoro. History of the Filipino People. Eight Edition. Quezon City, C and E Publishing, 1990 (pp. 184-185)
2. Anderson, Benidect. 2003. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism. Pasig: Anvil
Publishing, Inc.
3. Wani-Obias, Rhodalyn, et al.,2018. The Life and Works of Jose Rizal. Quezon City, C and E Publishing, Inc.
4. Brittanica Encyclopedia Online. See on Sovereignty and Nationalism.