Liberal Nationalism vs Conservative Nationalism

This lesson examines two of the most important strands of nationalism: liberal nationalism and conservative nationalism. These two forms of nationalism differ significantly in their values, goals, and implications, and understanding the distinction is essential for A-Level Politics.

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Liberal Nationalism

Core Ideas

Liberal nationalism combines the core principles of liberalism (individual rights, democracy, toleration, self-determination) with the belief that the nation is the natural unit of political organisation.

Principle	Liberal Nationalist View
Self-determination	Every nation has the right to govern itself through its own democratic state
Civic nationalism	The nation is defined by shared political values and citizenship, not by ethnicity or descent
Constitutionalism	The nation-state should be governed by a constitution that protects individual rights
Internationalism	Nations should coexist peacefully; national self-determination promotes international harmony
Democracy	National self-governance is expressed through democratic institutions
Toleration	The nation-state should respect the rights of minorities within its borders

Key Thinkers

Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–1872) — the leading theorist and activist of Italian unification (Risorgimento). Mazzini believed that: