Nations are outmoded artificiall created obstacles to progress.

Posted on by Opher

What is a nation?

It’s a territory occupied by a people with a shared culture, history, language or descent. Or is it?

Well increasingly in this multicultural world it isn’t.

Nations are artificial constructs created by people. They are political constructs artificially drawn on maps. Some are mere political decisions as with most of Africa and the Middle East. Some are the result of conquest by various robber-barons and empires like most of Europe. Some were established by colonialization – like the USA, Canada and Australia.

Nations are not stable. They change. Their boundaries alter. They fall apart and are split up. A study of old maps show this very clearly.

Within any nation – such as the USA or the UK – there are many languages spoken, many religions followed, many cultures incorporated, many races and creeds. There is nothing uniform or homogenous.

The cultural identity of a nation is a product of many different cultures and it is never fixed; it changes constantly.

Nations try to create an identity for themselves and glue people together with flags, national anthems, national costume, constitutions, pledges of allegiance, kings, Presidents, prayers, pageantry, national identity, military displays and other artificial psychological ploys to create a mass psychology that binds people together.

It is totally artificial. It is also extremely transparent.

The whole idea of nations has no real substance.

I would suggest that it is holding us back; that we need to think more globally and not be restricted to this outmoded idea of nationalism. All people are important. The whole planet is important. We need to solve problems universally. Competition between these artificial groupings causes wars, poverty and stops us solving the huge environmental problems, crime, terrorism and religious fanaticism that are assailing us.

Let’s do away with nations!

31 thoughts on “Nations are outmoded artificiall created obstacles to progress.”

    1. Because the whole idea of nations is a false one and we need to move on from primitive tribal thinking. It is divisive. How else do you think we can get to a more global view and bring the whole world up?

      1. i think if your patriotism for country grows then global will going to get more profit then other view. Universal ism can’t get successful if it does not contain respect. the concept of respect does not come only from logic. it actually comes from pride and imagination.

        As western world is becoming more and more logic centric it don’t to destroy concepts created by imagination and by evolution. because according to them it create dived . I Request you to read works of sir Rabindranath Tagore. he is Indian’s most famous universalist.

  2. Bhudi – thank you for your views.
    My view is that we have to develop that concept of pride and imagination further – we have to extend it to a global dimension. We should take pride in the achievements of all people worldwide and work towards alleviating poverty, war and pollution globally.
    I will see if I can have a read of Tagore.

    1. Can’t see that idea of yours being very successful in about three-quarters of the world, especially the entire continent of Africa, South America and south-east Asia.
      Would they care anything for old maps, what happened In Australia or whatever multiculturism there is in UK? I think not.
      Perhaps you haven’t realised or fully appreciate that this multiculturism is only something of a phenomenon in the developed western quarter of the world.
      It is not global my any means.
      Or do you regard the western world as the centre-point of global activity and nothing else matters and should follow suit?
      Whatever, you are incredibly naive to the ways of this world as expressed by some 5 billion people not living in the western world.
      You should go to India, where you will find over 300 languages and over 350 religions. Your paragraph that starts about nations trying to create an identity bears absolutely no relevance to India at all. The same could probably be said for China too, and it only highlights what an incredible job the people who do govern all these huge regions in these countries are doing to hold it all together. This is what gives substance as there would be complete chaos without it.

      Perhaps you might be living on the wrong planet.

    2. FOR CREATING GLOBAL PRIDE WE DON’T NEED TO DESTROY THE PRIDE OF NATION. DON’T FORGET IN BAD TIMES ONLY THIS IMAGINATION OF NATION CAN PROTECT US FROM DESTRUCTION.

      1. I think this concept of nation is false. It reinforces tribalism. We need to grow and become better than that. Nations perpetuate division and war.

      2. BUT opher no human civilization can run without culture for example british deny india as nation they said it does not look like a nation because according to the western defination of nation – that means one culture one king and one kingdom. but india was totally opposite of this defination. When india becamed free world said this country will be a failure because in india 22 culture, 25 languages, more 100 dialogues,7 types of skins,more then 9 types of religion, 42 types of other nationality, more than 6 types of geographical areas,more 24 types of food culture taste when you say that nations are idiot concept i feel very bad because from 5000 year we were an culture of various culture

      3. bhudhi, in fact there are over 300 language dialects spoken and over 350 religions practiced.

      5. Bhudi – Cheers Bhudi. But I am not suggesting that we do not have culture though Bhudi. I would like to see multicultural societies with many cultures all living peacefully together – just as you have described in India – but on a global setting without the need for nationalities. Each one of those cultures in India does not need its own country in order to prosper or retain identity.

      6. Opher, you don’t seem to understand how India works. It works on a regional basis, whereby, a particular culture’s customs and practices including language and religion hold a dominant position over other lesser practiced cultures – in that particular region. It’s a fine balancing act governed by the Caste system and without that there would be chaos and mass disruption similar to the levels of in-fighting before the Muslims were removed and sent north.
        Think of it:
        Buddhists living with Hindus = No Problem
        Hindus living with Christians = No Problem
        Hindus living with Jews = No Problem
        Christians living with Shintos = No Problem
        Shintos living with Confucians = No Problem
        Confucians living with Baha’is = No Problem
        Baha’is living with Jews = No Problem
        Jews living with Atheists = No Problem
        Atheists living with Buddhists = No Problem
        Buddhists living with Sikhs = No Problem
        Sikhs living with Hindus = No Problem
        Hindus living with Baha’is = No Problem
        Baha’is living with Christians = No Problem
        Christians living with Jews = No Problem
        Jews living with Buddhists = No Problem
        Buddhists living with Shintos = No Problem
        Shintos living with Atheists = No Problem
        Atheists living with Confucians = No Problem
        Confucians living with Hindus = No Problem
        Muslims living with Hindus = Problem
        Muslims living with Buddhists = Problem
        Muslims living with Christians = Problem
        Muslims living with Jews = Problem
        Muslims living with Sikhs = Problem.
        Muslims living with Baha’is = Problem
        Muslims living with Shintos = Problem
        Muslims living with Atheists = Problem
        Muslims living with Muslims = Big Problem.
        History always repeats itself on this issue.

      11. Bhudi – I mean that I think it is possible for us to retain our culture, enhance it with cultures of others, live in a multicultural society, do away with nations and have a global perspective.

      15. It is always good to talk even if we do not always agree. At least we can appreciate the other person’s point of view. Good to hear from you Bhudhi.

      17. bhudhi: Yes, something approximate to 350 religions are practiced in total within the continent of India as a whole. Needless to say it’s a remarkable area of the world. My family still have a tea plantation there and now on the 6th generation which is most unusual as most British landowners left after 1948. In another life I’d maybe like to live there but as it stands today I’m quite happy with a short visit every couple of years. I love India, but just can’t live there all the time.

      18. Opher, I fear you may have confused me, Merrick, with another. Doesn’t matter as the comment made stands. It’s not simplistic and anything but simplistic as it’s exactly as it stands. There is not one Muslim country in the world that grants others from another religion the exact same breadth of human rights as themselves. The very intrinsic nature of Islam automatically creates divisions.
        You either understand that or you don’t and I for one cannot speak for you.
        Name me one Muslim nation where any other religion are granted similar rights.
        Or do I need to spell it out for you?

      19. I am not going to become an apologist for a religion I despise. All religions remove human rights and Islam does it worse than others at this moment in time. I want rid of all religion.

      22. Opher said: “Islam does it worse than others at this moment in time.”
        Actually, at all moments in time. There’s never been a time or place where they haven’t. Wakey Wakey!

      23. Merrick – I think you should read a bit of Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall or Bring Up The Bodies. If you think that the intolerance, cruelty and viciousness has been restricted to Islam.
        Then start reading about the conquistadors, inquisition, pogroms, crusades, witch-hunts and the host of indoctrinating cruelties, vindictive nastiness, genocide and violence dolled out by Christianity.
        Then take a look at the machetes and clubs wielded by fundamentalist Hindus in India or Burmese Buddhists right now.

    1. Cheers Cheryl. I do think this idea of nations is dividing us and holding us back. We’re better off without it.

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