Liberal Nationalism as a Counter to Far-Right Politics.

4 days ago7 min read7 comments

The liberal retreat from nationalism, a strategic miscalculation of historic proportions, has created a political vacuum now being ruthlessly exploited by far-right movements across Europe and North America. Convinced that appeals to cultural identity were anachronistic in an increasingly globalized world, mainstream liberal parties systematically dismantled their own patriotic narratives, dismissing them as relics of a less enlightened age.This abdication of a powerful unifying force was not merely an intellectual preference; it was a profound failure to understand the fundamental human need for belonging and shared purpose. Into this void stepped a new breed of political entrepreneur, peddling an exclusionary, often ethno-centric nationalism that offers simple answers to complex problems of economic dislocation and cultural change.We have seen this playbook before—the siren song of 'us versus them' has echoed through the corridors of power from the interwar period to the rise of contemporary populist strongmen. To effectively counter this threat, liberals cannot simply condemn or retreat further into cosmopolitan abstraction.They must engage in the difficult, nuanced work of crafting a modern, inclusive nationalist creed—one that reclaims the flag from the far-right and stitches it into a tapestry of civic pride, democratic values, and a common destiny. This is not about jingoism; it is about building a resilient national story that can withstand the centrifugal forces of polarization.It requires acknowledging that a healthy patriotism can coexist with multiculturalism, that love of country can be a force for integration rather than exclusion. The strategic imperative is clear: either liberals develop a compelling vision of the nation that speaks to people's lived experiences and aspirations, or they cede the entire terrain of identity to those who would use it to dismantle the very foundations of the liberal democratic order. The battle for the soul of the nation is not a distraction from policy; it is the ground upon which all other policy battles will be won or lost.

#liberal nationalism

#far right

#cultural identity

#political strategy

#featured

#shared destiny