Ultranationalist

Ultranationalist is a term used in political analysis to describe a form of nationalism that places the nation above other concerns with uncompromising loyalty and sometimes exclusionary criteria. It often centers a single national identity defined in ethnic, cultural, or historical terms and demands complete alignment of citizens with that vision. Ultranationalist movements typically portray outsiders, minorities, rival states, or international norms as existential threats and justify coercive or violent measures to defend or advance the nation.

Common features include authoritarian leadership, suppression of political dissent, censorship, and propaganda; a militarized stance toward perceived enemies; a narrative of national renewal or purity; and a tendency toward homogenization of culture or policy. Ultranationalism can be tied to expansionist aims, recruitment of symbols or myths, and the delegitimization of pluralism in favor of a unified national will.

Historically the term has been applied to various movements and regimes associated with fascism or ethno-nationalist ideologies, though it is used more broadly to describe extreme forms of patriotism in different regions and eras. Some scholars distinguish ultranationalism from civic nationalism by emphasizing ethnic or cultural prerequisites for membership rather than political allegiance alone. Critics caution that labeling a movement ultranationalist can mask nuanced motivations or legitimate concerns about national sovereignty; nonetheless it is widely used to denote a radical, exclusionary strand of nationalism that seeks to prioritize the nation's interests over individual rights and international norms.