Patriotism Versus Nationalism

​The French President is right. There is indeed a massive difference between patriotism and nationalism. And as soon as more people realise this the better off we will be. Patriotism is nothing more than a pure emotion – it is the love of one’s homeland nothing more, nothing less. It prescribes no action nor pursuit of some sort of destiny. On the other hand, Nationalism is an ideology, a distinct prescription for achieving a certain way of life or destiny. Nationalism is a taught belief system which preaches that one belongs to a very unique ethnic, racial, religious etc., group that is either denied a particular homeland/state or having attained or possesses it, believes that this national group is superior and/or threatened by other nation states. Hence while patriotism leads to homesickness, nationalism wielded by unscrupulous governments leads to war.