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294 Kripa Sridharan© 2000 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore Introduction With the near completion of the decolonization process which resulted in the birth of a host of Afro-Asian states in the 1960s, it was generally assumed that nationalism had passed its heyday. Ever since the French Revolution, nationalism had exerted such a powerful influence on the thinking of mankind that it was hard to imagine that it would ever lose its appeal. But the end of colonialism and the gradual emergence of an interdependent world seemed to suggest that the age of nationalism was well and truly over. Economic, cultural, and communication links that have been operating regardless of national borders seemed to confirm the presence of a transnational world rather than a community of narrow, national entities. Sovereign states were thus seen to be fighting a rearguard action as boundaries became porous and penetrable by unconventional intruders. But the events associated with the end of the Cold War, particularly the break-up of the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, have belied such claims. Several new states have emerged in the wake of the disintegration of these two former federations, fuelled by the spirit of nationalism. Consequently, the present day world is witnessing a resurgence of nationalism as manifested in the integration and fragmentation processes operating between and within states. Increasingly, nationalist demands are surfacing both in the developing 294 m n Grasping the Nettle: Indian Nationalism and Globalization KRIPA SRIDHARAN 11 ISEAS DOCUMENT DELIVERY SERVICE. No reproduction without permission of the publisher: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, SINGAPORE 119614. FAX: (65)7756259; TEL: (65) 8702447; E-MAIL: publish@iseas.edu.sg Grasping the Nettle: Indian Nationalism and Globalization 295© 2000 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore and developed countries. Nationalism has once again begun to take centre stage in many places. In developing countries, its manifestation is evident in the people’s aspiration for autonomy and greater political participation together with the urge to negotiate for these benefits on the terms and conditions set by them. The developed world too has not been spared the nationalist challenge as seen in the case of Canada, Spain, and Britain. Even in a clearly defined nation-state like France tensions are apparent as the country experiences a sharp cultural diversity between the migrants from the Maghreb and the French people. These developments warrant a fresh look at the process that leads to the emergence and propagation of a national identity. The cases of individual nation-states while being important must, however, be located within the broader context of the contemporary international order, the defining feature of which is globalization. It would appear that the world we live in at present is confronted by the contradictory pulls of nationalism and globalism. The essence of globalization being a closer integration of states and societies, overriding the particularist identities of people and nations, it should in theory stand opposed to nationalist urges. But it is argued that the very forces of invasive globalization has unleashed a virulent backlash in the form of resurgent nationalism with assertions of freedom in all spheres. What distinguishes people from one another rather than what amalgamates them is finding new emphasis in many societies. But oddly enough, this is only one side of the story. Contemporary nationalism is both a reaction to an d a con sequ en ce of globalization . Th e com m u n ication an d information revolution associated with globalization has created a heightened awareness of particular identities among some nationalities, culminating in their demands for a separate nation state, thus reinforcing the disintegrative propensities within multi-ethnic states. In this sense, globalization began hastening the disintegration process in some states. Many multi-ethnic states in the communist bloc that had failed to satisfy the aspirations of the minorities began to be perceived as prisons from which dissatisfied groups longed to escape. The global electronic revolution greatly facilitated such yearnings. The transmission of news and views across state boundaries not only tended to help in sensitizing the viewing public about their identities but also spurred them to act to realize their dreams for a national homeland. It was not surprising therefore to witness the emergence of several new states in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Many pessimistic observers of India have also been predicting that a similar fate awaits the multi-ethnic state of India. The various secessionist movements within the country...

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