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The Positive Side of Nationalism
(National Review) Elliott Abrams - The decision of the British electorate to reject all advice and vote to leave the European Union is above all a display of nationalism, though when pundits mentioned the word, they used it as a synonym for chauvinism, isolationism, and ignorance much more frequently than as a synonym for patriotism. Nationalism is out of favor, especially in Europe, for obvious historical reasons, having been understood as a basis for fascism and extreme chauvinism. For Israelis, the referendum fight helps explain their unpopularity among European elites. If nationalism is primitive and infantile and dangerous, it is no wonder that Israel is criticized endlessly and its efforts to defend itself are seen as excessive. Israel's basic demand - to be understood and acknowledged as a Jewish state - is itself considered illicit; ethno-national states are out of the question these days. Defending your state with actual guns is positively medieval in the eyes of today's European leaders. Americans beg to differ, and that's a reason that Israel is more popular there. Believing in your country and defending it with your army is considered patriotic in the U.S., not primitive. The writer is senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.