Revisiting Civic Nationalism in the 21st Century: Role in Liberal Democracy

Abstract Civic nationalism emerged as a new idea of nation-building in 1970s Canada in the backdrop of end of the second world war, followed by downfall of fascism and beginning of globalization. Civic nationalism as a concept ought to replace the dominant prevalence of ethno-centric nationalism which focuses on ethnic and other personal identities as the basis of a nation’s foundation. The supporters of ethnic nationalism are also the proponents of classical nationalism who believe in homogenized national identity, i.e., citizens belonging to same cultural groups or non-titular groups merging into the titular groups to create the homogeneity. The proponents of civic nationalism, on the other hand, argue for shifting emphasis from ethno-centric identities of nation-building and focuses on the requirements of modern democracies in an increasingly globalized world. While ethnic identities of groups living inside a national boundary play its role in national politics, they argue that it is the civic identities and duties of each citizen that should be the basis of national identity and nation-building. In this context, it is important to understand the place of civic nationalism in the modern, liberal states of the 21st century. The effectiveness of civic nationalism has to be measured by studying some of the world’s most vibrant liberal democratic states.N