Introduction
In the early 21st century, nationalism and identity politics have become predominant factors in international politics. From Brexit in the UK itself to an increase of populist leaders all over Europe and beyond, we observe a renaissance of such patriotism, which is more about cultural identity than about international cooperation. This resurrection caused some doubts about global affairs as some see it as a step towards liberty and their society. Meanwhile, others are afraid that that way could lead to more conflicts and isolationism (Milner, 2020). I will show in this paper how nationalism and identity politics play a significant role in international relations today. The central research question is: What place do nationalism and identity politics get in global politics of the XXI century? The research will focus on how different nationalist and identity-based movements impact states’ behavior regarding diplomacy, international disputes, and cooperation.
Literature Review
According to Morozov (2021), the multilateral agencies, such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization (WTO), and International Monetary Fund (IMF), are effective in the cooperation among member states to face global challenges for peace, security, and the development of economic goals. In spite of this, nationalism can affect how efficient and legitimate organizations are since they act in the interests of a country rather than communitarian action. Such a neglect of multilateral organizations hampers their ability to reach joint agreements on assignable topics. Nationalist leaders might be inclined to upgrade unilateral decisions and reject international concessions and contracts that, in their view, burden national sovereignty. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the nuclear agreement with Iran by the Trump administration showed the opinion that such treaties are not the best for the United States. These actions do not simply break the treaties signed by the collaborating countries but also pull down the basic structure of international cooperation.
Milner (2020) states that the emergence of nationalism increases the atmosphere of distrust and suspicion between countries, making the construction of positive and bilateral development partnerships much more difficult. Should they view themselves as a nation first, countries may avoid negotiations, compromise, or sharing what they can. Trust deficit, in turn, interferes significantly with common issues such as climate change, terrorism, and global health crises. Nationalism, through its fragmentation and polarization, serves as a multilateral platform (Milner, (2020). Towards it, alliances may be formed based on shared nationalist ideologies or regional interests, which, in turn, can lead to the making of hostile blocs and the weakening of division efforts aimed at joint action. This can lead to yet another split among nations already in conflict and appear more complex for countries to solve and make decisions on critical issues.
According to Statkus, (2019), populist politicians use the nation’s ethnic sentiments and ethnocentrism to sweep off their voters’ grievances on national unity and patriotism. Rhetoricians put political issues in terms of “us vs. them,” allowing them to see themselves as their nation’s saviours versus actual or fantasised opponents (Statkus, 2019). This can be emphasized through the implications of national identity and ways to protect national customs and sovereignty against globalization and cultural change. The speech and acts of some populistic leaders can influence diplomatic relationships with other states, particularly those whose boundaries or citizens are the subject or victim of this nationalist and protectionist plan. Disputes can arise over trade imbalances, immigration policies, human rights, and geopolitical crises. The temerity also goes along with the populist style such that peace negotiations and dialogue become complicated with unforeseen incidents and tension escalations.
Methodology
The paper will use qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse the relationship between nationalism and identity politics in international relations in the 21st century. The approach will be multidisciplinary, and qualitative and quantitative methods and case studies will be used to understand the broad mix of these factors.
A quantitative analysis will be conducted in order to discover the leading factors and patterns of nationalism and global identity politics. Research on the specific topic will include consultation with multiple sources such as scholarly studies, think tanks, and international institutions. The critical issues of the research may be the nationalist election results, why nationalism is on the rise, the national and ethnic culture, and the social and economic inequality rates (Mylonas & Tudor, 2021). Further, this can be done using techniques like regression and comparisons to show the outcome of nationalist movements and identity politics on the international level. Our approach to this can be quantification, and eventually, we shall find out how much patriotism there is or how it affects domestic politics and foreign policy.
The research employs qualitative and quantitative methods to dissect the causes and the course of nationalism and ethnicity problems. Our research uses empirical evidence to determine the reasons for the conflict and identity problems in some selected countries or communities (Morozov, 2021). The study intends to carry out qualitative research, which will primarily deal with historical chronicles, political discourse, and social life, and it will serve as the primary key in showing the complexity of these relationships: issues such as identity politics, state formation, and international relations.
Quantitative methods like content analysis of media reports, interviews with key actors, and ethnographic observation can be the tools for capturing the manifold and context-sensitive characteristics of nationalist movements and their influence at national and international levels (Heiskanen, 2019). Ethnography will enrich the research with qualitative and quantitative analysis and individual examples of countries or regions that experience nationalism or identity politics (Heiskanen, 2019). The given case studies will provide us with enough empirical data and detailed information on nationalist movements where their genesis, ideology, and strategies are discussed. We aim to tackle this by highlighting different aspects of nationalism as reported in case studies of Hindu nationalism in India, Kurdish nationalism in the Middle East and East, and the resurgence of ethnonationalism in the East.
Case studies will allow assessing the impact of actors external to the national situations, for example, neighbouring states and international organizations, on the nature and consequences of nationalist movements and regional security. In order to increase the validity and reliability of the findings, the research will employ a wide variety of techniques that include a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, and various types of data (Mylonas & Tudor, 2021). Triangulation is the three-dimensional analysis of outcomes drawn from the combination of different methods or sources to achieve coherence and consistency. Through our efforts, we will go beyond one of them, offering a more profound and more thoughtful solution to the issue under examination.
Data Collection
The study’s purpose is to investigate the impulse of nationalism and identity politics in international affairs. The research evidence will be obtained through a diverse data collection approach (Waldee, 2018). Depending on the sources, they will range from historical cases to statistical data and case studies of countries involved in nationalist movements and ethnic conflict.
This work explores historical case studies about the nationalist movements and identity conflicts that provide background and knowledge on current nationalist issues. Doing that would entail exploring the events of the 90s, including the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Rwanda genocide, and the partition of India, among others (Milner, 2020). By looking for the most emblematic historical cases, we intend to figure out the main patterns and lessons, which in turn help us to clarify the nature of modern nationalist movements and their international impact.
The study will gather statistically analyzed data on nationalist movements and sentiments from credible academic studies, think tanks, and international organizations. Likewise, this kind of data can be gathered from poll data on nationalism, public opinion, votes for nationalist parties, and the societal and economic aspects that can be the symptoms of nationalism (Statkus, 2019). Using this statistical research, we aim to quantify nationally and temporally the predominance and intensity of national movements in different countries and areas and their variation over time.
The research will focus on countries exposed to conflict and instability by identity politics. These case studies will be devoted to Iraq, Syria, and Nigeria, which were all involved in disputes based on ethnic, religious, or cultural divides (Morozov, 2021). We have chosen to detail the interplay of identity politics and international relations by depicting examples of the specific national, social, and political contexts in those countries. Hence, we will look into stability, security, and the region.
The poll will use qualitative research methodology, and interviews and surveys will be conducted with experts in international relations, nationalism, and identity politics. The experts in this area may consist of academicians, administrators, and civil society representatives with professional knowledge and expertise (Waldee, 2018). We will conduct interviews with the experts to comprehend the profound reasons and impacts of nationalist movements and identity politics and the possible measures that governments can take at the international level.
Analysis
Nationalism and identity politics frequently determine how states make their foreign and domestic policies. The study will confirm this through the qualitative assessment of election results and public opinion surveys demonstrating whether nationalist feelings are the source of particular political programs and directions. To exemplify this, populist-nationalist leaders have already gained power in many countries and implemented policies that align with the nation’s sovereignty, immigration restrictions, and protectionism (Mylonas & Tudor, 2021). Applying the qualitative analysis of the political discourse and policy papers, which expose the ideological basis of national movements and their influence on national behaviour, can lead to a more comprehensive comprehension. Nations like the United States, Hungary, and Turkey are the best examples of countries that can help people understand the significance of nationalist rhetoric, the narratives of identity, and their role in world affairs.
Nationalism and identity politics significantly increase the chance of conflict between states and the attitude that international politics is a ‘zero-sum’ game. The quantitative analysis of diplomatic events and bilateral relations could demonstrate that conflict and same-mindedness are associated with nationalist ideas. For example, territorial disputes and unresolved historical claims often have a nationalistic component. As a result, using diplomatic mechanisms to resolve conflicts becomes very difficult (Waldee, 2018). Qualitative research involving negotiation and communication strategies will reveal how states resort to nationalist narratives that they promote to serve national interests and create public support. The analysis of cases of diplomatic mistakes, such as China and Japan’s quarrel about the Senkaku/Diaoyu island or the interstate conflict Russia and Ukraine have over Crimea, can assist in appraising the impact of nationalism on the improvement of international ties and their deterioration.
Nationalism and ethnic politics frequently worsen the state of international affairs by exacerbating ethnonationalist conflicts and territorial claims. Quantitative analysis of conflicts and security situations might connect nationalist movements to the upcoming violence. Let us look at the nationalist clamour and war fervour in the Balkans in the 1990s or the current situation in the Middle East and Africa as an illustration (Milner, 2020). The qualitative research method would incorporate case study analysis to identify the external actors and the underlying socio-economic problems. Through the case studies of the Syrian civil war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, we may understand the effects of ideologies on the persistence and escalation of international conflicts.
While identity politics and nationalism became the reasons for dividing countries, inter-country collaboration is still the key element to fighting universal issues such as climate change, pandemics, and terrorism. With the help of statistical analysis of multiple multilateral accords and network schemes, global governance models may be found, and the extent to which nationalistic sentiments hinder or motivate international cooperation may be identified (Statkus, 2019). Additionally, the nationalistic backlash against globalization and multilateralism in some places has generated reservations about international organizations and partnership constructs. Under the umbrella of the qualitative analysis of diplomatic negotiations and states’ joint efforts, there is an understanding of the causes of poor or successful collaboration between the states. With the aid of a case study of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the JCPOA on the Iranian nuclear program, we can find out tactics to help overcome nationalistic barriers to international cooperation.
Discussion
The research has proved that the coalition of nationalism and identity politics transformed international relationships at the beginning of the 21st century. Nations may now concentrate on their views and national preferences over international collaboration to attain a discordant and competitive global stage (Heiskanen, 2019). Nationalist sentiment plays a significant role among the factors that mould the state’s identity regarding international relations and how diplomatic politics is conducted. This results in the intense outburst of the conflicts as the nationalist discourse reveals historical grudges and territorial contradictions. On the contrary, nationalism prevents the creation of a unified world as people incline towards individualism and suspicion of globalization.
Conclusion
A review of the impact of nationalism and identity politics on contemporary international relations has been presented in this research paper. This research has revealed that the international community faces profound changes as states are becoming more nationalistic and, therefore, tend to prioritize their values and national interests over that of international cooperation. Such consequences will likely be part of how nations develop, as well as anomalies, global conflicts, and partnerships between them. The hypothesis focuses on the fact that nationalism and identity politics have changed IR by allowing states to determine their interests and cultural identities now rather than internationally agreed issues. According to the research, the argument is thus strongly backed by the fact. Nationalist sentiment plays a significant role among the factors that mould the state’s identity regarding international relations and the way diplomatic politics is conducted. Due to this, states begin to hate or even fight each other, which finally ruins the chances of global cooperation and joint activity.
References
Heiskanen, J. (2019). Spectra of sovereignty: Nationalism and international relations. International Political Sociology, 13(3), 315-332.
Milner, A. (2020). Globalisation at the crossroads? The revival of nationalism and identity politics. MANU Jurnal Pusat Penataran Ilmu dan Bahasa, 31(1).
Morozov, V. (2021). New nationalisms and identity politics: minorities, majorities and universal emancipation. European Review, 29(4), 434–444.
Mylonas, H., & Tudor, M. (2021). Nationalism: What we know and what we still need to know. Annual Review of Political Science, pp. 24, 109–132.
Statkus, N. (2019). The role of nationalism in the 21st-century system of international relations. Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review., pp. 17, 125–156.
Waldee, G. (2018). The Effects of Nationalism and Populism on Political Participation. Semantic Scholar.
write