States and political leaders use a variety of political styles to further the
interests of the state, including:
- Nationalism
- Fascism
- Fundamentalism
Political scientists debate whether these styles constitute distinct
ideologies in and of themselves. On the one hand, these styles are not as well
codified or philosophically grounded as the five political ideologies previously
discussed (anarchism, absolutism, liberalism, conservatism, and socialism). On the
other hand, each has played a key role in shaping events in world history generally
and twentieth-century governments specifically. Keep in mind that these styles and
the five political ideologies are not mutually exclusive, so a government may be
nationalist and liberal or nationalist, fascist, and conservative.
Nationalism
Nationalism, a strong belief that one’s nation is great (and,
usually, better than others), also arose during the modern era. In the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, nationalism emerged as a powerful force
that caused a number of revolutions. People began to identify with and take
pride in their particular nation-state. The French Revolution and the subsequent
Napoleonic Wars helped spread nationalism throughout Europe because many nations
rallied together to defeat Napoleon.
