Communism vs Nationalism
Communism and nationalism are two different theories. There is not much confusion between the two and there are explicit differences between the two terms.
Nationalism can be defined as an acute belief in one’s country. Communism can be termed as a form of socialism that looks forward for a class less society and where there is no private ownership. This makes it clear that communism does not stand for any regional or nation specific aspirations. On the other hand, nationalism pertains to a specific nation only.
Communism is a theory that stands for a stateless society. On the other hand, nationalism stands for a state or nation. Nationalism can be termed as compartmentalized where as communism is not like that.
Nationalism means the development of a particular nation. For nationalists, state or nation is the primary importance. However, for communist, the whole class or the whole world is a single entity. It is the community that prevails over others in communism whereas in nationalism, it is the national spirit that prevails over other thoughts.
In nationalism, there is a belief that one nation is superior to other nations. Moreover, the citizens of a country are more valued than the citizens of other countries. This belief does not hold in communism. For the communists, community stands above all. Unlike the nationalists, the communists think globally.
Nationalism is a term that was coined by Johann Gottfried Herder in the late 1770s. Though it is difficult to state when and wehere nationalism had emerged, it can be seen that the word had developed ater the French revolution and the American War of Independence. On the other hand Communism developed as a theory after the Bolshevik revolution in 1917. The term got popularized through ‘Communist Manifesto’, a book written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Summary
1. Nationalism can be defined as an acute belief in one’s country. Communism can be termed as a form of socialism that looks forward for a class less society and where there is no private ownership.
2. It is the community that prevails over others in communism whereas in nationalism, it is the national spirit that prevails over other thoughts.
3. Nationalism can be termed as compartmentalized where as communism is not like that.
4. In nationalism, there is a belief that one nation is superior to other nations. This belief does not hold in communism.
5. Nationalism developed after the French Revolution and the American War of Independence. Communism developed as a theory after the Bolshevik revolution in 1917.