How nationalism and globalism can coexist | Wanis Kabbaj

Nationalism vs Globalism: The New Political Divide

In this talk, the speaker explores the debate between nationalism and globalism. He discusses the intense emotions associated with these concepts and questions whether we have to choose between them.

Nationalism and Globalism

• Two weeks ago, the speaker searched for the words "nationalist" and "globalist" on Twitter, revealing colorful and intense expressions associated with both.

• Nationalism is defined as a devotion to one's nation and prioritizing national interests over international considerations.

• This debate impacts various aspects of our lives, including cultural identity, prosperity, political systems, and the health of our planet.

• Nationalists believe that societies are built on national grounds, sharing a land, history, culture, and defending each other for social stability.

• However, globalists argue that self-centered nationalism can lead to negative consequences like wars and destruction.

Understanding Nationalism

• Globalism refers to economic and foreign policy planning on a global basis.

• For nationalists, globalism threatens what their ancestors built over decades by eroding national solidarities and opening doors to foreign invasions.

• Globalists argue that reinforcing global governance is necessary to address supernational problems such as nuclear proliferation, refugee crises, climate change, terrorism, or superhuman AI.

Rethinking the Choice

• Instead of accepting an either-or choice between nationalism and globalism, we should challenge this binary thinking.

• We already have multiple identities (family, country/region/religion), so why do we have to choose between country and the world?

• The speaker encourages fighting against this dangerous thinking and finding a way to embrace both nationalism and globalism.

Nationalism as a Positive Feeling

• Nationalism is often associated with happiness, as it creates a sense of belonging to a larger national community.

• Studies show that national pride is strongly correlated with individual happiness.

• If nationalism makes people happy, why should it be taken away from them?

Conclusion

• The speaker urges fellow globalists to reconsider their views on nationalism and recognize its enduring power and positive impact on individuals' lives.

The Rise of National Populism

The speaker shares personal experiences and observations regarding the rise of nationalist votes in Western democracies since World War II. He highlights the potential consequences for individuals like himself who come from diverse backgrounds.

Personal Impact

• The surge in nationalist votes became more than just an intellectual question for the speaker when he realized it could affect his own citizenship or ability to return home due to his North African heritage or coming from a Muslim-majority country.

• Living in a democracy, there is an expectation that the government will protect its citizens as long as they abide by the laws.

• However, with the rise of national populism, there is now uncertainty about how governments may harm individuals based on factors beyond their control.

Rethinking Nationalism vs Globalism

• This situation forced the speaker to rethink the choice between nationalism and globalism and question why such a choice has to be made.

• We already have multiple identities (family, country/region/religion), so why should we have to choose between them?

• The speaker encourages fighting against this binary thinking and finding a way to embrace both nationalism and globalism.

Challenging Stereotypes

• The speaker asks globalists to reconsider their image of nationalism, which is often associated with negative stereotypes.

• Nationalism can also be a positive feeling of happiness and belonging to a national community.

• He emphasizes that the majority of people feel proud of their country, indicating that nationalism is not fading away.

Conclusion

• The speaker challenges the idea that nationalism is an outdated concept and highlights its enduring power and positive impact on individuals' lives.

Globalization and Nationalism: The Dark Side

In this section, the speaker discusses the dark side of globalization and emphasizes the importance of addressing its negative impacts on Western middle classes. The speaker also challenges the perception of globalists and nationalists.

Globalization's Dark Side

• Studies show that globalization has negatively affected Western middle classes, leading to anemic income growth for decades .

• It is crucial to acknowledge and address these negative consequences instead of engaging in a polarizing battle against nationalism .

Challenging Perceptions

• The speaker addresses nationalists in the audience and questions their perception of globalists .

• Globalists are often associated with being out-of-touch plutocrats or greedy Wall Street types, but this is not an accurate representation .

• A World Values Survey reveals that 71% of the world population identifies as citizens of the world, indicating a sense of global citizenship alongside national pride .

• Being a globalist does not mean betraying one's country; it signifies having social empathy beyond national borders .

Preserving National Identity

• The speaker reflects on anxieties about preserving national identity in a globalized world .

• Many key elements of national identities actually originate from outside national borders .

• Examples include the Latin script derived from ancient Egypt, British monarchy with German ancestry, French inspiration from 19th-century New York, Chinese ideology influenced by Marxism from Germany, and Indian adoption of cricket from England (0:08:40 - 0.10.28).

Regeneration through Globalization

• National traditions can be questioned, regenerated, reinterpreted, attracting new converts through globalization .

• Italian cuisine serves as an example of a national tradition influenced by various cultures and ingredients from around the world (0:11:00 - 0.11.34).

Conclusion

• Nationalists are often globalists, and globalists appreciate and explore other national traditions .

The timestamps provided in the summary correspond to the approximate time in the video where each section begins.