Civic nationalism, also known as liberal nationalism, is a form of nationalism identified by political philosophers who believe in an inclusive form of nationalism that adheres to traditional liberal values of freedom, tolerance, equality, and individual rights. Civic nationalists often defend the value of national identity by saying that individuals need a national identity in order to lead meaningful, autonomous lives and that democraticpolities need national identity in order to function properly. Civic nationalism is frequently contrasted with ethnic nationalism. Civic nationhood is a political identity built around shared citizenship within the state. Thus, a "civic nation" is defined by not language or culture but political institutions and liberal principles, which its citizens pledge to uphold. Membership in the civic nation is open to anyone who shares those values. In theory, a civic nation or state does not aim to promote one culture over another. German philosopher Jürgen Habermas argued that immigrants to a liberal-democratic state need not assimilate into the host culture but only accept the principles of the country's constitution. A more contemporary definition of liberal nationalism is offered by Yael Tamir in her classical book Liberal Nationalism as well as in her more recent book Why Nationalism. They argue that modern democracies cannot survive without a national backbone that provides a way of defining 'the people' as a political unit deserving self-determination and self-rule. Tamir also argues that the formation of a modern welfare state was dependent on the idea of the nation as a political unit that shares a common fate and common vision.
History
Civic nationalism lies within the traditions of rationalism and liberalism, but as a form of nationalism it is contrasted with ethnic nationalism. Ernest Renan is often thought to be an early civic nationalist. Membership of the civic nation is considered voluntary, as in Renan's classical definition in "Qu'est-ce qu'une nation?" of the nation as a "daily referendum" characterized by the "will to live together". Civic-national ideals influenced the development of representative democracy in countries such as the United States and France. The Corsican nationalist movement organized around the FLNC is giving a civic definition of the Corsican nation in the continuity of Pasquale Paoli and the ideas of the Lumières. The Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, and Mebyon Kernow, which advocate independence of their respective nations from the United Kingdom, proclaim themselves to be civic nationalist parties, in which they advocate the independence and popular sovereignty of the people living in their nation's society, not individual ethnic groups. The Republican Left of Catalonia supports a civic Catalan independentism and defends a Catalan Republic based on republicanism and civic values within a diverse society. The Union of Cypriots define its ideology as Cypriot nationalism, a civic nationalism that focuses on the shared identity of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. It highlights both communities' common culture, heritage and traditions as well as economic, political, and social rights. It also supports the reunification of Cyprus and the end of foreign interference by Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Outside Europe, it has also been used to describe the Republican Party in the United States during the Civil War Era. Civic nationalism shares elements of the Swiss concept of Willensnation, which is german for "nation by will", coined by Carl Hilty, understood as shared experience and dedication by citizens.
Critique
The main criticism to civic nationalism comes from ethnic nationalism, which considers that the former was invented solely to act against the latter.
