Venturing into the world of nationalism, especially in Class 11, opens up a tapestry of insights about nationhood and identity. Are you on a quest for detailed nationalism class 11 questions and answers? Or perhaps you're trying to fathom the core of what is nationalism in Class 11? WitKnowLearn is here to illuminate your path. In Class 11, students are introduced to the intricate dance of nationalism, helping them discern the ties that bind people together under one flag, one sentiment. As you navigate the curriculum, you'll also encounter intriguing topics like the two elements of nationalism, which provide deeper clarity into the layers that make up national pride.

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Q1. What do you understand by the right to national self-determination? How has this idea resulted in both formation of and

challenges to nation-states?

Ans: Right of self-determination implies that every nation in the world should enjoy a right to determine its destiny in all

walks of life without any due interference from any other state.

The basic right implies that each state has a right to exist independently without inference from other states and

sovereignty of the state would be respected by all.

Every state exercises the right to preserve what it considers worth-preserving. Each tradition has some historical

background and represents the soul of the nation.

To enjoy these rights, we may conclude the following reasons:

1. These rights are essential for the coexistence of a democracy in action.

2. This right promotes national unity among the various states which belong to different races, castes, religion and

cultures.

3. This right guarantees that minorities should not be absorbed in the majority whereas they should also be given the

right to determine their culture and civilization along with majority communities.

4. This right provided more national security because the majority and minority both enjoy the right to determine their

own affairs in the way they lined. But the right of self-determination results in the following challenges.

1. It may hinder the smooth functioning of administration in multi-national states like India, USSR because each section

makes efforts to find out one’s own way.

2. Sometimes, this right finds it difficult to frame a public opinion for the success of democracy because everyone

would develop its own identity only.

The right of self-determination resulted:

Disintegration of states, i.e. Russia, Austria, Hungary.

Resulted in the unification of states like Germany and Italy.

Resulted in the formation of states like Czechoslovakia and Finland.

Hence, it can be concluded that the right of self-determination can be also used for both purpose of national

integration and disintegration.

Q2. Illustrate with suitable examples the factors that lead to the emergence of nationalist feelings.

Ans: The factors that lead to the emergence of nationalist feelings are:

Shared beliefs: This refers to the collective identity and vision for the future of a group that aspires to have an

independent political existence.

The citizens of a nation-state share common beliefs irrespective of ethnic or religious differences.

For example, every citizen of India wants the national hockey team to become world champion.

Common history: The citizens of a nation-state share a common history.

It perceives them as stretching back into the past as well as reaching into the future.

For example, Indians share a common history of nationalist movement and have the same vision for their future.

Common territory: It shares a common land or territory on which the people have been living for a long period of time.

Thus, territory is an important component of unity.

For example, Indians identify themselves with the distinctive geographical features of the Indian subcontinent.

Shared political ideals: Citizens of a nation-state share a vision of the kind of state they want to build.

They share same political ideas, they share commitment to a set of political ideas and are bound by a set of obligations

legitimatised by the law of the state.

For example, the Constitution of India that is representative of the collective will of the people has adopted democracy

and secularism, among other ideals, as its goals.

Common political identity: The citizens share a common political identity irrespective of their religious, linguistic

groups.

For example, a Sikh from Punjab, a Muslim from Uttar Pradesh and a Hindu from Karnataka share a common political

identity of being Indian irrespective of their different religious and linguistic groups. 

Q3. How is a democracy more effective than authoritarian governments in dealing with conflicting nationalist aspirations?

Ans: Democratic government is more effective than authoritarian government in dealing with conflicting nationalist

aspirations.

1. A democracy is the most acceptable form of government in the world. Authoritarian types of government are not

liked and accepted nowadays.

7: Nationalism

Standard: 11th Arts / Humanities Subject: Political Science

2. In a democracy, it is shared commitment to a set of political values and ideals that is the most desirable basis of a

political community or a nation state. Within it, members of political community are bound by a set of obligations.

These obligations arise from the recognition of the rights of each other as citizens.

3. A nation is strengthened when its people acknowledge and accept their obligations to their fellow members. It is

more easily possible in a democracy than in an authoritarian government. We might even say that recognisation of

democratic framework government provide enough chances and more favourable atmosphere that in an

authoritarian government. Mutual respect and cooperation is the strongest test of loyalty to the nation.

Q4. “We have seen that nationalism can unite people as well as divide them, liberate them as well generate bitterness and

conflict”. Illustrate your answer with examples.

Neither descent, nor language, nor religion or ethnicity can claim to be a common factor in nationalisms all over the

world. Comment.

Ans: Nationalism unites people into a bond on the basis of same territory, shared beliefs, common history, shared

political ideals, common political identity and aspirations.

The idea of nationalism can liberate people from the bond of various smaller groups to a wider and common

group of nation where they share common interests and goals.

It can also divide the people as every lingual or cultural group could demand for a separate nation-state.

It can generate bitterness and conflict as demands for separate nation state by smaller groups often leads to

conflict. Such situations are at the root of many ongoing conflicts in the world

Neither descent, nor language, nor religion or ethnicity can claim to be a common factor in nationalisms all over

the world as there is no common set of characteristics that is present in every nation. It is very difficult for every

lingual, religious and ethnic group to become politically and economically viable. This also leads to several

problems for those groups that are in minority.

Therefore, no nation-state can stand only on the factor of religion or ethnicity.

Q5. How is a nation different from other forms of collective belonging?

Ans: Nation is, to a great extent, an ‘imagined community’ held together by the collective beliefs, aspirations and

imaginations of its members. It is based on certain assumptions like shared beliefs, common history, common territory,

shared political ideals and common political identity that people construct about the collective whole with which they

identify themselves. Unlike family its members are not linked with face-to-face relation. It is different from clans and

other kinship groups as it is not based common descent. It is different from any lingual group as it is not based on a

common language nor is it like a religious group as it does not share any common religion.

Q6. What do you think are the limitations of nationalism?

Ans: The limitations of nationalism can be cited as:

Most nationalist ideals are representative of the goals of a single cultural group. Thus, they fail to incorporate the

broader vision of inclusiveness.

Since it is not possible for every cultural group to create its own nation-state therefore every nation-state state has

more than one cultural group.

The different cultural groups often get involved in conflicts due to their separate nationalist aspirations and the

principle of exclusivity based upon a desire for homogenous identity.

The role of nationalism in a globalised world is yet to be completely evaluated as nationalist tendencies acquire a

different meaning in an inter-connected world.