Donald Trump's Embrace of Nationalism Is an Ominous Development

Donald Trump's Embrace of Nationalism Is an Ominous Development

You know who else was a nationalist? "Nationalism is burdened by negative connotations, all of which are well-deserved. It is hard to avoid confronting the fact that nationalism is often a precursor to national, sectarian, ethnic, and tribal conflicts around the globe. In the United States, nationalism is bound up with populism, and populism is linked to retributive politics and pigheaded policies. In countries without an egalitarian tradition or where individual identity is associated with the national or subnational character, chauvinism is no less dangerous but not necessarily anathema to the conduct of domestic political affairs. That is not the case in America, where nationalism is uniquely susceptible to hijacking by hucksters and megalomaniacs. President Trump’s conversion to nationalism should surprise no one. He campaigned as nationalist in every sense of the word. He rejected an extroverted foreign policy, preferring instead to withdraw within the borders of Fortress America. He even resurrected the loaded slogan “America First” in the process. He catered to white identity politics, ethnic chauvinism, and stubborn protectionism. He also nurtured a cult of personality."