In these times of globalisation, is National Identity and Patriotism important?

In these times of globalisation, is National Identity and Patriotism important?

This question has arisen, because there is a conundrum between the two in the minds of people.
Globalisation is defined as the elimination of barriers to trade, communication, and cultural exchange. Nationalism is the foundation of modern society and social solidarity. The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 established the nation-state, membership of which became the identity that is the basis of modern society. And it happened much before the concept of globalisation came in its present form.

National Identity and Patriotism are always important, irrespective of the time we are in! There are evolving supra-national organisations such as the EU, which increase the multicultural nature of our societies. Still a sense of belonging from a particular place, speaking a particular language, boasting of the best cuisines, gives pride.

Globalisation helps in rectifying the wrongs and superstitions in our beliefs. Had it not been enlightenment or presence of western liberal thoughts, we would still be practising Sati. But it doesn't dilute our identities. There are different perspective on the same. I believe that our identities should be strong and should not tremble from any attack of globalisation.

Cultural imperialism is one of the dominant faces of the west. Other regions of the world started borrowing the advanced technology and thus the ideas and values that originated in the west became the standards for the world.They need not conquer with war anymore in the present scenario. Cultural dominance and political interference in the name of development are the new tools for making their presence felt.

Taking in a multilevel approach, it is how a country’s public perceive globalisation with its different dimensions of national identity. One group may see globalisation as a challenge to nationalism in the way that it increases immigration, which might create new difficulties to the management of cultural and ethnic diversity and lead to xenophobia.

It is so funny to look on the other side of the coin, as some perceive it as an instrument used by politicians to promote national unity and patriotism. Case study of Georgia, is interesting, where nationalist forces have been seeking greater globalisation through integration in the Euro-Atlantic structure and attracting Foreign Direct Investment.

We can't take a extreme view on either side, a sense of staunch nationalism is fundamentalism. Surely, globalisation melts people and identities into one, but it is just the way of expressing our nationalism, not the patriotism we have inside our hearts.

Globalisation is a double-edged sword, and there has been a marked rise of nationalism under globalisation. There will be no decline in National Identity and Patriotism. People will always be linked to their motherland, irrespective of the place they reside physically, food they love, clothes they wear, or slang they use. It is just they don't show it more often than they feel. When time comes, people unite under one roof, whether it was 1962 China war or 1999 Kargil war!