The evolution of the civic–ethnic distinction as a partial success story: Lessons for the nationalism–patriotism distinction

Abstract

This article brings, for the first time, two of the most pivotal distinctions in nationalism studies into extended dialogue: the civic-ethnic distinction (CED) and the nationalismpatriotism distinction (NPD). By reviewing both the evolu-

Introduction to the special issue of the International Journal of Comparative Sociology on “National identity, nationalism, patriotism, and globalization”

“…Several, relatively recent, works therefore attempt to reconcile the dimensional approaches of statistical analysis with the notion that patriotism, nationalism, and national identity form a contingent "attitude syndrome." A theoretical analysis discussing the relation between the ethnic-civic distinction and the nationalism-patriotism distinction and their possible connections can be found in Piwoni and Mußotter (2023). An empirical test with a structural equation model employing ISSP data was done by Raijman et al (2008).…”

“…It appears that there is no solution strategy in sight that would allow us to distill a statistically viable classification from the available data with so many, closely related items while not making prior theoretical assumptions about their composition and relations (Finch and Bronk, 2011). Several, relatively recent, works therefore attempt to reconcile the dimensional approaches of statistical analysis with the notion that patriotism, nationalism, and national identity form a contingent “attitude syndrome.” A theoretical analysis discussing the relation between the ethnic–civic distinction and the nationalism–patriotism distinction and their possible connections can be found in Piwoni and Mußotter (2023). An empirical test with a structural equation model employing ISSP data was done by Raijman et al (2008).…”

Mind the gap: The nation form and the Kohn dichotomy

“…According to Coakley (2018, p. 267), for example, the Kohn dichotomy can continue to serve as a valuable heuristic device if it is “stripped of its normative content” and treated as “representing ideal types – ones which may coexist, in varying degrees, within the same nationalist movement.” Thus, numerous studies continue to deploy an ideal‐typical distinction between civic and ethnic nationalism to interpret empirical data abstracted from social surveys, citizenship laws, and immigration policies (e.g., Ariely, 2013; Björklund, 2006; Ceobanu & Escandell, 2008; Hjerm, 2003; Janmaat, 2006; Larsen, 2017; Shulman, 2002). A recent survey of the literature describes the evolution of the civic/ethnic dichotomy as “a partial success story” precisely on the grounds that it has been dissociated from its geographical referents and transformed into an abstract set of ideal types (Piwoni & Mußotter, 2023).…”

“…From this perspective, the conceptual ambiguities of the Kohn dichotomy are not something to be explored further but, to the contrary, something to be eliminated: The aim of the scholar should be to refine the binary into a crystal‐clear set of ideal types so that it can be operationalised for empirical work. The end‐goal is to rid the civic/ethnic dichotomy of “remaining inconsistencies” by segregating “categories of analysis” from “categories of practice” (Piwoni & Mußotter, 2023, p. 912; see also Bonikowski, 2016, p. 435; Brubaker, 1999, p. 69). While conceptual purification is vital for the kind of empiricist scholarship that currently dominates the field, it deliberately glosses over the opacities and contradictions that pervade the Kohn dichotomy—including the inverse distinction between the ethnic West and the civic non‐West.…”

“…Thus, numerous studies continue to deploy an ideal-typical distinction between civic and ethnic nationalism to interpret empirical data abstracted from social surveys, citizenship laws, and immigration policies (e.g., Ariely, 2013;Björklund, 2006;Ceobanu & Escandell, 2008;Hjerm, 2003;Janmaat, 2006;Larsen, 2017;Shulman, 2002). A recent survey of the literature describes the evolution of the civic/ethnic dichotomy as "a partial success story" precisely on the grounds that it has been dissociated from its geographical referents and transformed into an abstract set of ideal types (Piwoni & Mußotter, 2023).…”