Ultranationalism: Why modern states are often treated like living, breathing organisms
In short: Ultranationalism is more than just extreme patriotism; it is a political ideology that views the nation as a living organism capable of growth, decay, and rebirth. By framing societies through mythicized pasts and xenophobic narratives, these movements often justify authoritarianism, political violence, and the pursuit of absolute national supremacy.
At its core, ultranationalism asserts that a nation must maintain hegemony over others to secure its specific interests. Political theorist Roger Griffin argues that this ideology relies on xenophobia and deeply mythicized narratives of historical greatness to legitimize its goals. By treating the nation-state as a biological entity, ultranationalists rationalize ideas of national destiny, degeneracy, and subhumanness, often drawing on vulgarized interpretations of anthropology, genetics, and eugenics to categorize populations.
The psychological framework of these movements frequently connects politics to motifs of sacrifice and organic unity. Whether through the mysticism-driven religion of Romania’s Iron Guard or the secular, technology-focused platform of the British Union of Fascists, the goal remains the same: the subordination of rational thought to a charismatic leader or an amorphous movement. This often results in authoritarian or totalitarian arrangements, where the state demands total loyalty and views dissent as a threat to the nation's survival.
History shows that ultranationalism is rarely confined to rhetoric. In Shōwa Japan, the fusion of traditional Shinto beliefs and militarism led to the assassination of five Prime Ministers between 1921 and 1936 and widespread support for territorial expansion. Similarly, the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia applied these principles to such an extreme that it resulted in the loss of approximately three million lives. Today, the ideology continues to manifest in various forms, from the rise of social media-driven extremism in China to the shift toward state-led ultranationalism in Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Critics and scholars, such as Janusz Bugajski, distinguish this extreme approach from civic nationalism, which can contribute to the common social good during crises. Ultranationalism, by contrast, thrives on the 'blind' rejection of rational debate and the demonization of outsiders. Whether through historical denialism, as seen in the actions of Nicolae Ceaușescu, or the promotion of irredentist expansionism, the ideology consistently prioritizes a narrow-minded, mythic vision of the nation over the stability of international relations and the rights of the individual.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ultranationalism
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