By Chauvinism, although nowadays associated with radicalism of thought, emerged as a term to designate extreme nationalism. Let us delve deeper into this topic and its influence on society.
The word “chauvinism” may not be part of your everyday jargon, or you may have used it as a pejorative term to refer to people with extremist and discriminatory thinking of any kind. However, this term was coined two centuries ago and has a specific origin.
Despite the antiquity of the word, it is a movement that appeals to visceral feelings and produces radical thinking. Therefore, it is important to know what causes it and what its impact is, since history repeats itself every time social crises like those of our days occur. Join us to read what follows.
What is chauvinism?
Chauvinism refers to the irrational idea that one’s own nation is superior to others. It considers others to be less advanced, weak, unworthy and, ultimately, inferior. It is, therefore, an extreme form of nationalism , guided by distorted thoughts that do not respond to the influence of reality.
This word can also be found as “chauvinism” or “patriotism.”
However, nowadays, it is possible to see this term applied to areas other than nationalism. It has become a pejorative expression to describe certain discriminatory currents, such as sexism , transphobia or xenophobia, as extremist and irrational.
Genesis of this form of nationalism
Chauvinism is a word that arose from a figure present in Napoleonic France in the 18th century, after the French Revolution. In this era, marked by nationalism throughout Europe, the figure of Nicolas Chauvin, a soldier who venerated Napoleon and everything he represented, stood out .
Such was his fervour that he enlisted in all the battles he could, even when he was still suffering serious consequences from the previous ones. The fame of this figure was used as a banner to appeal to the nationalist feelings of the French, causing such an effect that the term we are talking about in this article ended up being coined.
In any case, historical research has not found that Chauvin actually existed . Everything points to him being most likely a fictional character who was used from the beginning to criticize the extreme nationalism of that time.
Characteristics of chauvinism
Although we have already discussed the irrationality of the ideas of superiority embraced by chauvinistic people, other typical characteristics of this style of thinking can be found. We will now present them:
- Inability to adapt to foreign environments: they cannot conceive of the possibility of living in another country, no matter how similar their culture may be to their country of origin.
- Cognitive rigidity: Chauvinists believe that their nation is superior to others and ignore the arguments of others, no matter how valid and correct they may be. They base their own reasoning on prejudices .
- Nationalistic exclusivity: a strong need to belong prevails, but the person restricts their relationships to certain sociocultural or physical characteristics, such as skin color or religion.
- There is an emotional attachment to the nation: everything that is typical of the country, from traditions to businesses, is taken as a sign of superiority. There are feelings of love for the concept of one’s country.
- Idealization of the past: the chauvinist clings to customs and repetition, giving exaggerated importance to the values and events of the nation’s past. Generally, the most idealized times are those characterized by expansionism and warmongering.
As you can see, this type of thinking dynamics makes the person profess an ideological extremism based on exclusion. It is a dangerous cocktail, since the discourse is tinged with hatred and is very difficult to correct.
How do chauvinist currents arise?
We live in a time of conflict, where geopolitical problems spread their consequences over long distances due to globalization. Thus, for example, the war in Ukraine caused a shortage of grain throughout Europe, since almost all of it was imported from this country.
In a context like this, nationalisms have experienced a boom in the last decade: Trump with America first, the United Kingdom with Brexit , Milei in Argentina and a long etcetera.
These are movements that put the needs of the nation at the centre and, in the most extreme cases, manipulate the population into merging their individual identity with the collective one and making sacrifices for the sake of the objectives that are set for them.
These movements draw on the human need to belong, allowing people to establish an emotional and identity-based bond with the idea of their country or cultural group.
Historical past, national customs or a crisis environment are usually the most common tools to awaken this type of feelings.
Radicalization of nationalism: them against us
As you have seen, nationalism is fueled by the need to belong and the exaltation of collective identity. This, which could be taken from a positive or critical point of view in order to grow as a nation, becomes dangerous when used to manipulate the population and make it favourable to the objectives set by those in power.
Radicalization begins when, after creating a national identity, it is opposed to other peoples. The others are the enemy, what is ours is right and what is theirs is wrong, and the cultural clash becomes an attack on what is most loved: the homeland.
This is how xenophobia becomes established in collective thinking and people are more likely to exert (or receive) violence because of this national identity.
There are psychological factors that encourage the radicalization of thought, such as learned helplessness , dissatisfaction with life, or placing the focus of responsibility externally.
These currents take advantage of them, as they exalt them and offer simple solutions to complex problems, often pointing to minority and disadvantaged sectors of the population.
Chauvinism today
Today we live with the radicalization of thought and the exaltation of specific identities. The idea of protecting “what is ours” from external entities is applied to nationalism and many current social movements, such as feminism or anti-racism. It is in this differentiation of what is ours and what is not and in the impermeability of thought that extremism rests.
It is therefore normal that chauvinism has spread to other areas to signal radicalism. Since the international economic crisis of 2008, messages urging the fusion of personal identity with that of the nation have resurfaced, as have extremist parties seeking to seize power through exclusion and violence.
In the face of radical styles of thought, critical and progressive currents emerge that seek, precisely, to differentiate themselves from irrational and bellicose patriotism. History always repeats itself, so it must never be lost sight of so that the progress of society always moves forward.