nationalistic

Nationalistic is an adjective used to describe attitudes, movements, or rhetoric that center on loyalty to a nation and the prioritization of national interests, sovereignty, culture, and identity. It relates to nationalism but focuses on the character of beliefs or actions rather than a formal ideology. Nationalistic discourse can be inclusive, invoking shared civic symbols and values, or exclusive and often ethnically or culturally defined, portraying outsiders as threats.

Two common strands are civic nationalism, which ties belonging to legal citizenship and political participation, and ethnic or ethnolinguistic nationalism, which ties belonging to ancestry, language, or culture. Nationalistic sentiment can mobilize populations, shape state-building, and influence policy. It may be expressed in peaceful patriotism, as well as in aggressive or chauvinistic forms. In political life, nationalistic rhetoric often accompanies policies on immigration, trade, defense, and education, and can affect foreign policy and regional stability.

Scholars describe nationalistic currents as having both constructive and risky consequences. Supporters argue that it reinforces social cohesion, sovereignty, and cultural continuity. Critics contend that it can provoke xenophobia, discrimination, and conflict, especially when it scapegoats minorities or opponents. The term is frequently used in modern discourse to label rhetoric seen as prioritizing one nation’s interests over global cooperation or the rights of outsiders, sometimes implying a narrowing of plural identities in favor of a unified national narrative.