“The rise of nationalism in the 20th century led to both liberation and oppression.” Evaluate this statement with examples from different regions of the world.

The rise of nationalism in the 20th century played a dual role, acting as both a force for liberation and a cause of oppression, impacting various regions around the world in profound ways.

• Liberation Movements: Nationalism was a driving force behind numerous independence movements against colonial rule. In India, the nationalist movement led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru resulted in independence from British rule in 1947 through largely non-violent means. Similarly, in Africa, nationalist leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana and Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya spearheaded movements that successfully achieved independence from European powers.
• Ethnic and Sectarian Conflict: However, nationalism also fueled ethnic and sectarian conflicts. In the Balkans, the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s was marked by nationalist fervor that escalated into brutal conflicts between ethnic groups, leading to significant human rights abuses and atrocities. Similarly, in Rwanda, ethnic nationalism spurred the genocide in 1994, during which extremist Hutu nationalists targeted the Tutsi minority.
• Authoritarianism: Nationalism has also been linked to the rise of authoritarian regimes. In Germany, Adolf Hitler’s nationalist propaganda helped consolidate his power and led to the oppressive policies of the Nazi regime, culminating in the Holocaust. In the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin’s brand of nationalism included forceful Russification policies and severe repression of non-Russian cultures within the union.
• Economic Protectionism: Economically, nationalism inspired protectionist policies in numerous countries, which sometimes led to economic isolation and stagnation. The “America First” policies of the United States under President Donald Trump, for example, involved measures that impacted international trade relations.

The impact of nationalism in the 20th century thus encompasses a spectrum from empowering liberation movements that freed nations from colonial rule to fostering divisions and conflicts that have had long-lasting detrimental effects on global peace and stability.