ethnonationalism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic / Political Science
Quick answer
What does “ethnonationalism” mean?
A form of nationalism wherein the political unit (the nation) is defined in terms of a shared ethnicity, heritage, or culture, rather than civic or political ideals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A form of nationalism wherein the political unit (the nation) is defined in terms of a shared ethnicity, heritage, or culture, rather than civic or political ideals.
A political ideology that merges ethnic identity with national identity, asserting that a state should be governed by and for a specific ethnic group. This often leads to policies promoting ethnic homogeneity and can justify exclusion, discrimination, or secessionism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences. Usage is almost exclusively academic or journalistic in both regions.
Connotations
Equally negative/analytical in both dialects, associated with separatist conflicts, identity politics, and historical analysis.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse but standard in relevant academic fields in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “ethnonationalism” in a Sentence
[Ethnonationalism] + [verb] (e.g., *emerged*, *spread*, *declined*)[Adjective] + [ethnonationalism] (e.g., *virulent*, *exclusionary*)[Verb] + [to] + [ethnonationalism] (e.g., *led to*, *gave rise to*)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ethnonationalism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The rhetoric served to ethnonationalise the political discourse.
- The movement's leaders sought to ethnonationalise the state's founding principles.
American English
- The conflict ethnonationalized the region's politics.
- Efforts to ethnonationalize the curriculum were controversial.
adverb
British English
- The region was defined ethnonationalistically, excluding recent immigrants.
American English
- The policy was framed ethnonationalistically to appeal to a specific demographic.
adjective
British English
- The party's ethnonationalist rhetoric alarmed minority communities.
- An ethnonationalist ideology underpinned the new constitution.
American English
- The group's ethnonationalist agenda was clear.
- Scholars studied the ethnonationalist movements of the 20th century.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Standard term in political science, sociology, and history to analyse separatist movements, state formation, and identity conflicts.
Everyday
Very rare; might appear in high-quality journalism discussing politics of identity.
Technical
Core term in political theory and conflict studies to denote a specific subtype of nationalism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ethnonationalism”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ethnonationalism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ethnonationalism”
- Misspelling as 'ethno-nationalism' (the hyphenated form is less common in modern academic writing).
- Using it as a synonym for all nationalism.
- Confusing it with patriotism.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly, though they often overlap. Ethnonationalism is a political ideology focusing on the nation-state for a specific ethnic group. Racism is a belief in the superiority of one race over another. Ethnonationalism can use racist ideas to define the in-group and exclude others.
Nationalism is a broader belief in the importance and sovereignty of one's nation. Ethnonationalism is a specific subtype where the 'nation' is defined explicitly by ethnicity, heritage, or common descent, rather than by shared civic values or territory.
The ideology of Nazism in Germany is an extreme example, defining the German nation in terms of 'Aryan' blood. Other examples include certain strands of Serbian nationalism during the Yugoslav wars or the concept of 'Russkiy Mir' (Russian World) in contemporary politics.
Yes, generally. Civic nationalism defines national membership based on adherence to shared political values, laws, and institutions within a territory, regardless of ethnic background. This contrasts with ethnonationalism's basis in shared ethnicity.
A form of nationalism wherein the political unit (the nation) is defined in terms of a shared ethnicity, heritage, or culture, rather than civic or political ideals.
Ethnonationalism is usually academic / political science in register.
Ethnonationalism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛθnəʊˈnæʃ(ə)nəlɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛθnoʊˈnæʃ(ə)nəˌlɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ETHNICity + NATIONALISM = ETHNONATIONALISM. It's nationalism based on ethnic group identity.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NATION IS AN EXTENDED FAMILY (shared blood/ancestry).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of ethnonationalism?