Some people belive that nationalism is the most powerful political force in the world, if that's the case what does the term ultranationalsim mean? Ultranationalism is a word used to describe an extreme form of nationalism. Ultranationalists are often fanatically loyal to their own nation and hostile and racist toward other nations. This hostility can even endanger international peace, this is how terrorists and international criminals are made.
HOW DOES ULTRANATIONALISM DEVELOP?
Ultranationalism develops in people when they have fanatical belief in their own group and fear and loathing of anyone who challenges those beliefs. some people believe that drastic social and economic changes that result in poverty and unemployment can spark extreme nationalism. The great depression of the 1930's, for example hit Germany espicially hard as it was still recovering from the first world war. The people were looking for a strong leader and Adolf Hitler used this and powerful propaganda tools to rise to ultimate power. Hitler commited horrible acts of genocide in killing millions of Jewish people for their race and used his ultranationalistic views to create his "super race". The great Depression also started Japan's ultranationalistic views as they went to war with China and later with the United States in World War 2. In the years leading to World War 2, ultranationalists worked to rid Japan of democracy and turned it into a military dictatorship. In 1941, General Tojo Hideki became prime minister and promised the country would dominate Asia through military might. One of Japan's ultranationalistic war tactics during World War 2 included deadly airplane dives into allied ships called Kamikaze pilots. Video of Kamikaze pilots. More modern examples include: when Yugoslavia broke up in 1992, acts of ethnic cleansing were commited in Bosnia and Herzegovina by serbian ultranationalists. Even more modern, in the early 2000's in Middle Eastern countries, ultranationalists were increasing in numbers through their hatred of America. After 9/11, America invaded Iraq and created even more ultranationalists against the United States in Iraq.
HOW HAVE PEOPLE RESPONDED TO ULTRANATIONALISM?
After World War 1, appeasement was intoduced hoping it would avoid another war. Appeasement is giving in to demands. A foreign policy practiced by Britain and the United States when they granted Hitler concessions in an effort to avoid world War 2. When Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, the league of nations failed to do anything and proved useless. Often when ultranationalism arises, if it poses a serious threat, it usually ends in war. Both World Wars were caused because of ultranationalsim since no one knew any other ways to deal with ultranationalism. In ultranationalistic nations like Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union, there were conscription armies making it easier to create a large army quick. Even in recent years, after the ultranationalistic act of 9/11, the United States invaded and went to war with Iraq and Afghanistan. Although it is now more controlled, it was still a basic action done by the U.S. Today, Canada has many peace keepers in Iraq and Afghanistan helping to maintain the peace and restore order. The United Nations was created toalso deal with situations of ultranationalism, many people believe that the UN did not do enough to stop the genocide in Bosnia in the 1990's. Although right now, the UN and peace keepers seem to be doing a good job in countries that require help to maintain peace
