Blind nationalism

Blind nationalism is a term used to describe extreme nationalism, e.g. nazism, chauvinism. It is the nationalism "which does not allow the rational nature of the human mind to assert itself".

It was used to explain the totalitarian and authoritarian regimes in the Interwar period, which eventually led to World War II. The term is sometimes associated with American expansionism.

Origin

The earliest known use of the phrase "blind nationalism" is in the 1908 book Racial Problems in Hungary by British historian Robert William Seton-Watson:

Needless to say, the attitude of the Magyar Press corresponded to that of the parliamentary Jingoes; and even the Pester Lloyd, which treated the matter with conspicuous moderation, wrote as follows: "We shall say no more of the Hlinkas and the Hodžas. These are small fry, who live upon blind nationalism, just as those amongst us who rise to honours and riches through frenzied Chauvinism. People of that sort one seizes by the collar if they break the law, and the basta."

Quotes

In his 2000 book Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower, American author and critic of United States foreign policy William Blum says "If love is blind, patriotism has lost all five senses."