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1.14 Contending Non-Nationalist Loyalties
1.14 Contending Non-nationalist Loyalties
Should nation be the foundation of identity?
Big Ideas:
- People may have non-nationalist loyalties such as religion, culture, race, ideology, class, and geographic region.
- People with different nationalist and non-nationalist loyalties may contend (conflict) with each other.
- Reconciling contending nationalist and non-nationalist loyalties requires effort.
What are Non-nationalist Loyalties?
Non-nationalist loyalties can be in conflict in a multicultural (or multination) state. People may be torn between their own non-nationalist loyalties and loyalty to their country. The diagram below illustrates some of the non-nationalist loyalties Canadians may find contend with their loyalty to Canada.
The chart below explores non-nationalist identities.
Loyalty | Example | |
Religious Loyalty | Loyalty based on religious beliefs and values | Native Spirituality, Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu |
Regional Loyalty | Loyalty based on the people living within a geographic area and the interests of the people living there | Maritimes, Eastern Canada, Western Canada, Northern territories, Edmonton, Taber |
Cultural Loyalty | Loyalty based on a shared way of life of a group of people | Syrian, Inuit, Métis, French (Québécois) |
Racial or Ethnic Loyalty | Loyalty based on a similar racial background or ethnic group | Aboriginal, Asian, Hispanic, African, Italian |
Ideological Loyalty | Loyalty based on similar ideas about how a society should work, or loyalty to a social cause | Liberal, Conservative, Socialist, environmentalism, feminism |
Class Loyalty | Loyalty based on a similar social group in society | Blue collar workers, middle income, low income, upper class |
So, what's the difference between nationalist loyalty and a non-nationalist loyalty? The answer to this question is not always easy to determine. And, sometimes they are more difficult to manage due to the potential for conflict.
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Go to your textbook, Understanding Nationalism , and read page 88. This page will help you begin to understand the difference between nationalist loyalty and non-nationalist loyalty. |
Take notes using the 1.14 Notebook Organizer (Word, PDF, Google Doc). You may refer to the tutorial How to Take Notes. When you are done, return here to continue. |