Sociopedia

For much of the late twentieth century, many scholars believed that nationalism would gradually decline. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the expansion of globalization, the growth of international institutions, and the rise of digital connectivity appeared to signal the arrival of a more cosmopolitan world. Influential thinkers spoke of a “global village,” a “borderless world,” and even the “end of history.” The expectation was that economic integration, liberal democracy, and transnational networks would steadily weaken national identities. However , the first quarter of the twenty-first century has produced a very different reality. Across continents, nationalism has returned as one of the most powerful political forces of our time. From the United States and India to China, Russia, Turkey, Hungary, Italy, France, and many parts of Africa and Latin America, political movements increasingly invoke national identity, sovereignty, culture, religion, and historical memory. Electoral vi...