Lockean Liberalism and Nationhood
Liberalism is a moral and political philosophy that is based on equality before the law, liberty, and consent of the administered. Liberals advocate for different opinions depending on their understanding of these values. However, they support free trade, individual rights, democracy, and capitalism, freedom of speech, limited government, free markets, and freedom of religion, secularism, gender equality, and internationalism among others. John Locke proposes a fundamental notion of political philosophy assumed from the belief of repercussion right on a property and self-ownership[1]. He claims that the government should be limited in securing the property and life of the citizens.
In this book on The Virtue of Nationalism, Hazony claims that any government in the world will be intolerant because the universe is made of diverse cultures[2]. This diversity goes beyond cultural preferences for things like closely cropped hair and spicy foods. Besides, it runs deeper on if culture prefers people to live as nuclear families, or favors multigenerational households. Since culture defines what is good in different ways, choices on what to value might diverge without a single choice being superior over the others.
Hazony argues that liberalism is fundamentally an imperial philosophy in politics. This view opposed the existence of diverse countries[3]. For example, countering malicious types of identity politics requires investing in a liberal nationalism founded on creedal commitments. Together with other scholars, Hazony believes that universalism of liberalism causes misguided imperial adventures, thus, abandonment of a liberal policy hegemony is the strategy in creating a more stable world.
According to Hazony, liberalism and nationalism are two opposing positions. He argues that nationalism is an honorable position that favors nation-states, enabling them to cultivate their traditions and pursue their interests without facing any interference[4]. On the contrary, liberalism is a philosophy that is inherently imperialist politically and it justifies the worldwide spread of political stances by stressing to be the only legitimate form of administration. In contrast to recent trends in politics, the elements of national self-determination and nationalism were respected during the period between the 18th and 20th centuries[5]. During these times, ruthless regimes discredited nationalism. Western democracies, in defending themselves from these governments, realized that they were defending cosmopolitan, liberal economic and political order, and universalism. Therefore, a series of historical accidents made it impossible to conceive of freedom independent of liberalism. Nevertheless, liberalism can undermine the basis of political liberty by damaging the sense of collective identity and mutual loyalty that enhances cooperation and trust; the fundamentals for collective self-rule, and individual freedom.
For a better approach, we have to celebrate the political practices of American and British statesmen of the 20th century who believed in nationalism as the man feature of a peaceful, diverse, and just society. However, this may cause some tension in the presentation of Hazony. He claims that theoretically, nationalism and liberalism are two philosophies in politics that are always in opposition, but the two at times get together harmoniously. Certainly, the historical information of America and Britain shows that these two are more effective when they work together in cycles. Besides, Hazony decries liberalism but it contrary supports a form of government to enhance the development of free organizations and preserve the liberty of individuals. Lastly, liberalism accommodates a place of the identity of a nation. However, it needs not, and cannot support nationalist arguments for national communities to become states and separate important national groups from current states to obtain national self-determination.
Bibliography
Goldie, Mark. “Locke and America.” A Companion to Locke (2016): 546-63.
Hazony, Yoram. The virtue of nationalism. Hachette UK, 2018.
Yoram Hazony and Walter Russell Mead. “Nationalism and the Future of Western Freedom.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8L8S-FDDhw
Fanning, Bryan. “Taking intolerant liberalism seriously.” In Tolerance and diversity in Ireland, North and South. Manchester University Press, 2015.
[1] Goldie, Mark. “Locke and America.” A Companion to Locke (2016): 546-63.
[2] Hazony, Yoram. The virtue of nationalism. Hachette UK, 2018.
[3] Ibid 2
[4] Yoram Hazony and Walter Russell Mead. “Nationalism and the Future of Western Freedom.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8L8S-FDDhw
[5] Fanning, Bryan. “Taking intolerant liberalism seriously.” In Tolerance and diversity in Ireland, North and South. Manchester University Press, 2015.