The Subversive Effects of Nationalism on the American Civilizational Structure throughout the History of the United States of America

Abstract

Nationalism is one of the most influential political ideologies in human history. In fact, the sentiment has drastically reshaped the international political map in the two centuries since its first formulation in the writings of European philosophers in the 18th century, notably in regions accommodating ethnic or cultural minorities imperfectly integrated into their respective national societies. Thus, the problems and frequent failures of national integration are issues of central importance in the contemporary world, namely, the United States of America. The present paper examines the question of whether nationalism is detrimental to the civilizational structure of the USA; if so, then to what extent? The present paper will attempt to answer this question by conducting an objective investigation of different historical events and evaluation of their respective ramifications on the American community and politics