The Points of ‘Nationalism’

George Orwell’s “Notes On Nationalism” was written during his period as a war correspondent in the late spring of 1945. It appeared in the first issue of Polemic: A Magazine of Philosophy, Psychology & Aesthetics, which was published in October 1945.

The essay is divided into three sections: it was not unusual for Orwell to divide his work in this way, but “Notes On Nationalism” is then broken down into sub-sections. We can isolate these sections.

“By ‘nationalism’ I mean [writes Orwell]

first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labelled ‘good’ or ‘bad’. But

secondly ­– and this is much more important – I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.”

“Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved.”

The following are the principal characteristics of nationalist thought:—

Obsession.

Instability.

Indifference to reality.

“I have examined as best as I can the mental habits which are common to all forms of nationalism. The next thing is to classify those forms, but obviously this cannot be done comprehensively. Nationalism is an enormous subject.”

The varieties of nationalism flourishing among British intellectuals:—

Positive Nationalism

(I.) Neo-Toryism.

(II.) Celtic Nationalism.

(III.) Zionism.

Transferred Nationalism

(I.) Communism.

(II.) Political Catholicism.

(III.) Colour Feeling.

(IV.) Class Feeling.

(V.) Pacifism.

Negative Nationalism

(I) Anglophobia.

(II) Antisemitism.

(III.) Trotskyism.

“It is important at this point to correct the over-simplified picture which I have been obliged to make.

To begin with, one has no right to assume that everyone, or even every intellectual, is infected by nationalism.

Secondly, nationalism can be intermittent and limited.

Thirdly, a nationalistic creed may be adopted in good faith from non-nationalistic motives.

Fourthly, several kinds of nationalism, even kinds that cancel out, can co-exist in the same person.”

Five types of nationalist (and a fact which it is impossible for that type of nationalist to accept), taking examples from the British Isles:-

British Tory. Britain will come out of this war with reduced power and prestige.

Communist. If she had not been aided by Britain and America, Russia would have been defeated by Germany.

Irish Nationalist. Eire can only remain independent because of British protection.

Trotskyist. The Stalin regime is accepted by the Russian masses.

Pacifist. Those who “abjure” violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.

“As for the nationalistic loves and hatreds that I have spoken of, they are part of the make-up of most of us, whether we like it or not. Whether it is possible to get rid of them I do not know, but I do believe that it is possible to struggle against them, and that this is essentially a moral effort.”

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Foreign language versions of this article appeared within a year. They were:-

France: Écho. Revue Internationale. Écrits, Faits et Idées de Tous Pays, Tome 1, numéro 1, August 1946, pp. 66– 74, as ‘Remarques sur le Chauvinisme.’

Netherlands: Internationale Echo: Van Idëën en Gebeurtenissen uit Alle Landen, 1e Jaargang, Nummer 1, August 1946, pp. 96– 105, as ‘Het Nieuwe Chauvinisme.’

Italy: Eco del Mondo: Opere, Fatti, Idee d’Ogni Paese, volume 1, numero 1, september 1946, pp. 75– 82, as ‘il nuovo sciovinismo.’

Finland: Parhaat, Number 1, October – November 1946, pp. 4– 14 as ‘chauvinismin varjo.’

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Acknowledgements

This post is based on “Notes On Nationalism”, item 2668 in the Complete Works of George Orwell, edited by Professor Peter Davison, and his annotations on the subsequent publishing history.

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