National identity requires crafted enemies to become activist ideology

Evidence

While “nationalism” and “national identity” are closely related concepts, they function differently in the political arena. The cultural strands that make up a people’s national identity tend to be diffuse and politically dormant. To be turned into nationalist ideologies, they need to be stirred up, emotionally charged, and crafted in ways that could foster group loyalty and a proclivity toward political action. This is often achieved by identifying or creating near and distant “others” who can be blamed for not abiding by the nation’s cherished values, challenging its interests, or, in the extreme, threatening its security and survival. — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized, 1656

Categorization

• SEED: Directly addresses the reader’s core research question: diffuse identity is energized into mobilized nationalism precisely by identifying or creating others.
• XREF: Connects to manufactured-enemy solidarity literature (the reader’s stated central research question on external-enemy group cohesion). — connects to: The nationalist ideology needs a manufactured enemy to mobilize — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 303; Identity formation requires defining enemies across cultural fault lines.; Group identity formation requires the existence of enemies to define the self against — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 33 (+7 more)
• recurring: this claim recurs 3 times within its source

Broader Connections

• The nationalist ideology needs a manufactured enemy to mobilize #corroborates (0.95) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 303
• Group identity formation requires the existence of enemies to define the self against #corroborates (0.92) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 33
• Identity formation requires defining enemies across cultural fault lines. #expands (0.90)
• Activist identities must be reinvented as practice, not inherited as belief #qualifies (0.80) — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 1269
• Politicized collective identity requires shared grievances, adversarial attributions, and societal involvement #expands (0.80) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4390