Differing Conceptions of Nationalism Involved Too

Submitted by Tom Holsinger (United States), Jan 14, 2003 at 18:25

Mr. Sanes sent me a copy of his article last week. I disagree with his premise that political "super-systems" are involved here. IMO his European and American models have much more to do with differing versions of French and American nationalism, with the former also involving an old-fashioned grab for political power in Europe.

The European "bureaucratic leftism" model Mr. Sanes describes is the current version of a French concept originating a few centuries ago which is sometimes called "dirigiste" or "etatism", and has more to do with the development of French nationalism in the 17th, 18th & 19th centuries. His American model IMO more reflects unique characteristics of American nationalism, which I described three months ago in my Strategy Page column, "The Giants of Flight 93":

"... if the unique role of the American people in American nationalism is considered. They feel they alone constitute the nation. This is quite contrary to other countries' nationalism where the "people" are considered one of many domestic factions, and often an illegitimate one ("the rabble"). This distinction arose because the American people have always deemed America's sovereign power to reside in themselves, while most other nations began their national consciousness with a hereditary monarch expressing the sovereign power. Other peoples identify themselves with their nations. Americans instead identify the nation with themselves, feeling they collectively are the nation.

Many distinctive American traits grow from these feelings - exaggerated self-reliance and individualism, disdain for elites, self-confidence, etc. The American phenomenon of "populism" is a perfect example - a feeling that factions are illegitimate usurpers of power properly exercised solely by the people through governments which are supposed to be their servants. The American people are rightly confident they collectively can bend their governments, including the national government, to their will when necessary, but don't hesitate to act on their own, as individuals or in spontaneously formed groups, to address issues as those arise. The unique vitality, power and independence of American local and state governments compared to those of other countries arises from the fact that sovereignty and power reside in the American people collectively and flow from the bottom up. ..."

I also feel Mr. Sanes' "bureaucratic leftism" model is better described as the current attempt by European unelected elites to gain and perpetuate political power independent of the voters of European countries. The attacks of unelected elites on the independent powers of European nation-states, which are somewhat responsive to their voters, is most definitely a major factor. These unelected elites want to rule through the European Union.

I.e., we are seeing a struggle for old-fashioned political power in Western Europe. I suggest you read the opening chapters of Fritz Fischer's _Germany's Aims in the First World War_ for an example of what that can lead to.

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