Subsequently, this theory became the basis for compiling a Marxist theory of the nature of the national group.
Nevertheless, under normal circumstances, the idea that citizens will, according to their personal wishes, carry out what would otherwise require the use of force is very attractive.
James Donald remarks in the words he puts to the colonial administrator, which tells the story of the sources of English research on the management techniques of colonial India in 1838: "The natives must either obey with a sense of our strength, or obey us of their own free will out of conviction, because we are wiser, more just, more humane, and more willing to improve their situation than any other ruler they might have."…
In a democratic society, political ideology performs its functions at the stage of entry of citizens into political life. In modern conditions of civilization development, its position is weakening, the sphere of ideological war is narrowing, its influence on political activity and in general on international relations is decreasing. Universal interests and values are formed, which require ideological pluralism and democratization of relations both between states and between the state and its people.
This characterizes the process of deideologization of human consciousness, which does not abandon ideology at all, but refuses to apply ideological stereotypes, intolerance and monopoly, demanding in turn to provide different ideologies of civilizational content and pluralism. VI Lenin believed that "the state is strongly conscious of the masses. It is strong when the masses know everything, can judge everything and go to everything consciously"…
At the present stage, the main task of political ideology is to unite citizens and direct their actions to achieve a common goal and social development based on their knowledge of political reality, the growth of their political culture and activity. Therefore, in the context of growing integration processes, more and more attention is paid to the question of the state’s use of national ideology as a means of consolidating the efforts of the people and strengthening their self-identification.
National ideology as the basis of national-state identity
"The people are moral, virtuous and strong as long as they are busy embodying their great goals" Hegel GWF
In the formation of the political life of any society plays a huge role such a subject of politics as the nation – (from the Latin. "people") – a historical, dynamic community of citizens, organized on a political or ethnic basis and, as a rule, has its own territory, common interests, desire to be one, national culture and language, awareness of the common past, present and future , identity and common name.
The national idea is a kind of guide for each nation. It is a reflection of the political demands of the country’s citizens, the aim of which is to achieve the increase of their social status through national affiliation, based on one or another understanding of the origin and nature of the national group.
Countries that are in the process of finding their ethno-national dimension need the appropriate use of political means and mechanisms to ensure the consolidation of popular opinion and activities on the basis of national ideas and interests. One of the most effective methods of resolving this issue is the use of national ideology.
This, for example, explains its boom in the late nineteenth – first half of the twentieth century in Western Europe, a natural continuation of which today is the process of European integration and the activities of such an international organization as the European Community. Another striking example is the intensification of national ideology in the political life of the former Soviet Union in connection with their independence, in the context of which there is a need to choose future development, address the issue of self-determination of nations on the world stage and find its optimal forms.
The main goals of national ideology are divided into:
external – the expansion of the geopolitical space of a separate nation, the expansion of interethnic contacts, etc. internal – the protection of its own territory, national sovereignty, culture from external expansion, etc.
It is important to note that national ideology is not necessarily a source of international enmity and subsequent conflict. And if used wisely, it can become not only an effective means of protecting national interests, not associated with increasing tensions between countries, but also an important consolidation incentive, as is the case, for example, in Eastern Europe.
It promotes the formation and coordination of relations between the state and the nation according to certain principles, influences the implementation of socio-economic, political and other state programs aimed at developing society, activating political activity of citizens, stimulates national self-awareness, deepens national pride, corrects social behavior and human choice. Due to this, it becomes a means of uniting a single nation, a factor in establishing relations between different ethnic, national, social groups and the state.
Franco noted that "Every ideal is a synthesis of desires, needs and competitions … Such ideals can emerge, can ignite the hearts of buy compare and contrast essay a wide circle of people. Lead those people to the greatest effort. To the heaviest victims. Give them strength in the most terrible torments and sufferings …"… Emphasizing in his own words the need for practical political activity in the implementation of the national idea, so the ideology is a kind of catalyst for the political movement of the country.
National ideology is one of the most important principles of forming the national consciousness of a citizen of the state, the formation and strengthening in the minds of the people of their national-state identity.
National-state identity
"If there are no prospects for the development of the national organism, the incentives to belong to it and, even more so, to work for it disappear." Isaevich Ya.
The need to determine the identity of their belonging to a particular group of people is a crucial reason for the formation of nations throughout the world’s historical development. There are two concepts of definition "nation": the first – a political and legal approach, and the second – socio-cultural. Within these approaches, the main theories of the origin and nature of the national group are:
Political theory, according to which a nation is, first of all, a political community that unites citizens of the state, regardless of their ethnic or social origin, cultural or other characteristics. Representatives of this theory are G. Grotius, G. Seton-Watsen, M. Weber.
Historical and economic theory. Founder Karl Kautsky, who identifies four main features of the nation: common territory, language, economy and traditions. Subsequently, this theory became the basis for compiling a Marxist theory of the nature of the national group.
Cultural theory (K. Renner, J. G. Herder, J. Brand) – a nation as a cultural community that is united by a single thinking; embodiment of the national idea with common cultural and ethical norms, values, symbols.
Psychological theory, represented by E. Renan, R. Emerso and others, defines a nation as a single community of people with a single historical destiny, character and mentality.
Islamic theory is a nation as a people who have been blessed by God.
J. Dallas and E. Smith considered the nation a large politicized ethnic group, characterized by a common culture and common origin. This notion of the origin of a national group constitutes an ethnic theory.
The identity of an individual to a nation, and of an individual nation to the world community, is an important element of the functioning of the entire international system. National identity is the awareness of a group of people or an individual of their belonging to a particular ethnic group, which is characterized by a common historical destiny, character, mentality, psychology, culture. National customs and traditions, which are a component of everyday consciousness, are a means of unification, integration of the national community, awakening of national consciousness.
Socio-economic and political changes in society contribute to the growth of the importance of identity. A powerful stimulus for the formation of the national identity of the people is the acquisition of political autonomy. Of course, national unity is not only determined by a common territory, language, religion or state sovereignty, but it is also impossible to deny the unconditional importance of these facts. According to M. Berdyaev, statehood is not a sign of a single nation, but the desire to achieve their statehood and improve it – a natural instinct of any nation.
It is possible to imagine the state as just a convenient set of mechanisms that serve to meet the needs of the citizen. This theory of the state does not need an ideological basis. The state is only an institution in which efficiency, clarity and comprehensibility play a key role. Such a simple model satisfies those who want to minimize the functions of the state, those who believe that it exists only for the defense and defense of law and order. However, this theory does not explain the relationship between the state and identity. It does not take into account the fact that the state can exist as a fantasy for its citizen, that it can be a part of ourselves.
States are constantly growing, developing, reaching their peak, but eventually dying. Empires arise and cease to exist, full of national-state identity in the period of their prosperity and devastation and confusion at the moment of fall and disappearance. At each of these points, the attributes of identity are non-negative.
It is impossible to ignore the necessity and inevitability of the role of the state in the formation of images of national-state identity. The state (more often – the nation, which it tries to include) becomes, among other things, what some philosophers and sociologists call "social imaginary" ("imaginary society"), and other sets of stories, inventions and dreams. Such definitions of the state do not diminish the importance of its existence and legitimacy. They emphasize the complexity of the functioning of the state and the constant need to spread the system of ideals and social sentiments. Images of identity are also a source of patriotism.