... entire corpus of political science literature and the many facets of its application across the globe. Nationalism is defined as "devotion to one's nation; national aspiration2" and during colonial occupation "a policy of national independence.3" From a political science viewpoint it is a political tool to create support for a cause by giving the masses a stake in the politics of the State (enfranchisement) through unity and usually perpetuated by political elites. It is a way to unify seemingly different peoples for a common cause by the creation of an "imagined community.4" The idea of the imagined community or bonds between different people is not a recent ideology invented by nationalism. For example during the Mughal Empire the idea of a personal relationship with the emperor or elites in another part of the empire unified is equally abstract and created. For that matter the idea of a unified body of worshippers ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now