Nationalistic terrorism: imperialism’s Middle Eastern legacy

An article from the Economist's recent special report on Israel, describing instability in its military institution. http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10909916&CFID=4457665&CFTOKEN=95384609


Imperialism and nationalism are highly related, occurring as separate manifestations of the same impulse in the same group. Nationalism is a particularly vehement and exclusive way of identifying (or identifying with) a cohesive group and asserting that group’s right to rule itself. Nationalistic identity formation may arise in reaction to imperialism, when one nation exerts political, military, or economic control over another group, such as colonization. Circularly, imperialism is rooted in nationalism, in the belief that as one’s own group rules itself, so it should rule inferior nations and reap their economic bounty. However, nationalism is not necessarily imperialistic, and often is not, because not every nationalistic group commands sufficient power to control others. Terrorism, unsanctioned political violence, can be a response to imperialism, or an outgrowth of nationalism. In the latter case, it could be a way of expressing a particular group’s presence and encouraging (or threatening) action on its behalf.

The modern Middle East, though free of imperial colonization, still bears its traces, in its borders, languages, and cuisine. In response to occupation, initially by European imperialists, then by immigrant Jews, diverse Arab ethnic groups have coalesced into more cohesive nationalist ones. Within the modern state of Israel, imperialism and nationalism feed off one another and the promise of Zionism. The conflict to determine Israel’s borders erupts into both official wars and nongovernmental terrorism. Conflict and distinct enemies only sow further nationalistic cohesion, and greater commitment to imperialism. The often violent interaction of nationalist, imperialist, and terrorist groups creates the Middle East’s explosive and uncertain mixture of identity politics.