Books Quote by Anne Applebaum
“There is a lot of learned material written about nationalism - scholarly books and papers, histories of it, theories of it - but most of us understand that nationalism, at its heart, at its very deepest roots, is about a feeling of superiority: We are better than you. Our country is better than your country.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Nationalism: The History of an Idea, 2011
Nationalism's core is a belief in one's superiority over others, often expressed as national pride.
In simple terms: Nationalism is about feeling superior.
Key Takeaway
Recognize superiority bias.
Themes
identity
power
exclusion
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- school curricula
- media narratives
- community meetings
Key Concepts
ethnocentrism
group superiority
praise
political discourse
education
media
Questions to Reflect On
- How does superiority affect policy?
- Can pride exist without exclusion?
A Different Perspective
Superiority can be rationalized as cultural pride.
![“The very nature of economics is rooted in nationalism. ... It [was] developed ... in the hope of throwing light upon questions of policy. But policy means nothing unless there is an authority to carry it out, and authorities are national.” quote by Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eba/joan-robinson-11438_authority_the-very-nature-of-economics-is-rooted-i_15974.jpg)
