There is an interesting question that has been asked about how global crises reshape national identity narratives and patriotism. It seems to be a very complicated matter because it involves many factors such as political and social changes, historical events, cultural values, etc. In this article, I will try to analyze these issues by looking into some examples from history.
In ancient times, when the Greeks were fighting against the Persians, they had strong feelings of patriotism and national pride. Their culture was based on democracy and freedom, which was threatened by the invasion of their enemies. Therefore, they fought for their country and won the battle. This event became a symbol of Greek identity and shaped the way people thought about their nation.
After centuries, Greece experienced several wars with other countries, resulting in losses and weaknesses. As a result, the idea of Greek patriotism changed drastically and no longer depended on military power but on economic strength.
During World War II, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and America declared war on Japan. The attack caused a great shock among Americans who felt betrayed by Japanese soldiers. They started hating all things related to Japan, including Japanese products and foods. This feeling of hatred towards anything Japanese stayed for decades until the rise of Korean pop music and anime films. Today, being a fan of K-pop or watching a Japanese cartoon series is not unusual in American society anymore.
The September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City are another example of how terrorist actions can impact a nation's national identity narrative. After the attacks, America became more aggressive in its foreign policies and invaded Iraq without clear evidence that Saddam Hussein was behind them. In addition, it started to build walls around its borders and put more restrictions on immigration. These measures led to a surge in nationalism and patriotism in the United States.
Global crises have always reshaped national identity narratives and patriotism. It seems that every crisis creates new challenges and opportunities that change the way people think about their country. Therefore, we need to be aware of these changes and try to adapt to them if we want to survive as nations.
How do global crises reshape national identity narratives and patriotism?
The global crisis of COVID-19 has fundamentally changed how we see ourselves as citizens of our country and members of society. The pandemic has caused us to rethink what it means to be "patriotic" and what it means to have an identity that is rooted in a sense of belonging and shared values with others.