patriotism essay meaning

• Write my thesis
• Thesis writers
• Buy thesis papers
• Bachelor thesis
• Master's thesis
• Thesis editing services
• Thesis proofreading services
• Buy a thesis online
• Write my dissertation
• Dissertation proposal help
• Pay for dissertation
• Custom dissertation
• Dissertation help online
• Buy dissertation online
• Cheap dissertation
• Dissertation editing services
• Write my research paper
• Buy research paper online
• Pay for research paper
• Research paper help
• Order research paper
• Custom research paper
• Cheap research paper
• Research papers for sale
• Thesis subjects
• How It Works

What Is Patriotism Essay? – Definitions, Topics, Examples

Do you want to write a patriotism essay and don’t know where to start? Don’t worry about it too much! We are here to help you write the best patriotism essay possible in the shortest amount of time. We will explain the concept of patriotism and clarify why it is essential, discuss patriotism essay examples, and then provide you with some topics. Some tips and tricks are included and the end of the blog post. They should make it much easier to write a patriotic essay.

What Is Patriotism Essay?

Why is patriotism important is it the same as nationalism, good patriotism examples make for good essays, patriotism essay list of 68 topics, get our patriotism essay examples, the importance of patriotic essay examples, tips for the best essay on patriotism.

The first thing we want to discuss is the definition of the patriotism essay. What is patriotism essay? Defining patriotism is a very difficult thing to do. Some would tell you that it is the love and devotion one feels for their country. Others would tell you that it is just a set of principles. And then there are others who consider patriotism to be just a special feeling. You will need to know all these definitions if you want to write a patriotism definition essay. However, in most cases, you will be required to write an essay on patriotism, not on its definition. That means you will have to decide what patriotism means specifically to you. It will influence the way you write the academic paper, of course. However, no approach is wrong, simply because patriotism has different meanings to different people. That applies to everything from a speech on patriotism to patriotism in a sentence prompt.

In some cases, you may be required to write a ”what does patriotism mean to me essay.” That is a bit more complicated because you need to understand why patriotism is important. It also means you have to know the differences between it and nationalism. Be aware that nationalism is not simply the love for the people who live in a country. And patriotism is not the love for the country. The reality is that patriotism is a moral principle, a feeling, or a level of loyalty to the country. On the other hand, nationalism is a political ideology that protects the interests of everything a nation stands for: people, language, traditions, industry, etc.

When writing an article on patriotism, it is important to realize that the patriotism essay ideas you come up with are very important. You want a topic that is both interesting and original. You want something you can write about, so make sure the topic you choose has plenty of information about it online. However, make sure to narrow down the topic – unless you want to write a short novel on it. You can find plenty of examples of American patriotism all over the Internet, so you have a lot of topics to choose from. Ensure the topic is something your classmates didn’t think about. You can read some patriotism essay examples to get an idea of how experienced writers organize their writing and their ideas. Don’t hesitate to look at the winners of a patriotism essay contest. You’ll find a lot of neat ideas. And you also learn how a proper patriotism essay is written.

We have answered the “why is patriotism important” question and helped you pick the right topic. But we are prepared to do much more. We have asked our experienced patriotism essay writers to compile a list of topics for our readers. Patriotism is a broad concept, and there are many standpoints that you can perceive it. If you want to write a patriotism essay or you need patriotism ideas, here are some topics that you can write about:

• What is true patriotism?
• Do Americans still practice true patriotism?
• Can patriotism be related to extremism?
• American heroes and their patriotic acts.
• The uniqueness of American patriotism
• How is American patriotism different from that of other countries?
• Does patriotism change the way we treat foreigners?
• How did American patriotism start?
• How to reach patriotism to children and teenagers
• Movies that portray patriotism
• How music has helped to explain the concept of patriotism.
• Is dissent the highest form of patriotism?
• Dying for your country: patriotism or suicide?
• What does patriotism mean to you?
• How does patriotism affect our relationship with people from other countries?
• Difference between patriotism and nationalism
• President John F. Kennedy’s We Choose To Go To The Moon speech and how it portrays patriotism.
• The true definition of patriotism
• How the entertainment industry teaches true patriotism.
• What is blind patriotism?
• Are patriots racists?
• Is the patriotism level in the country declining or increasing?
• Patriotism 100 years ago and now: what has changed?
• What role does patriotism play in genocide?
• How is patriotism reflected in our day-to-day lives?
• How did patriotism help to galvanize World War I?
• Xenophobia is an act of patriotism, true or false?
• The difference between patriotism and cosmopolitanism
• How does patriotism influence the kind of products we use?
• Do people consider patriotism when choosing the kind of car to buy?
• Rock n Roll and patriotism
• Patriotic acts that people need to emulate
• Breaking the law in the name of patriotism: can that be regarded as patriotism?
• Misconceptions about patriotism
• How the government and other people have exploited patriotism for their selfish use
• Is patriotism taught in school?
• Why patriotism should or should not be taught in schools
• Is American patriotism the same as blind patriotism?
• Is terrorism also a form of patriotism?
• How to encourage people to be more patriotic
• Is patriotism important? Why?
• What are the benefits of patriotism?
• How is patriotism portrayed in literary works?
• What is/are the correlation(s) between patriotism and colonialism?
• What is/are the correlation(s) between patriotism and nationalism?
• Patriotism and realism: How to connect one with another
• Are there limits to what you should do as a true patriot?
• What is the meaning of overwhelming patriotism?
• How to pursue your American dream as a patriot
• The national anthem and the national pledge and how it helps you to be more patriotic
• Examples of patriotism during the American Revolution.
• Compare and contrast patriotism and xenophobia.
• Are conscientious objectors traitors?
• What patriotism means to me?
• The worst case of ethnic chauvinism.
• What does true patriotism mean?
• Patriotism still matters in the modern world. (excellent pride in one’s country essay topic)
• The difference between patriotism and nationalism.
• Teens and patriotism today.
• The importance of Independence Day.
• Why are we proud of our patriots?
• Veterans and their tales of patriotism.
• Is patriotism a good thing?
• What is national chauvinism?
• Discussing the pledge of allegiance in schools.
• Patriotism is an excuse for war.
• Is patriotism stronger than the love for family?
• Avoiding western chauvinism and learning from our mistakes.

These topics are excellent starting points for any high school or college student. Remember that finding amazing patriotism examples is important — the more interesting the tale, the better the essay. There are many ways to state your ideas and express your views about patriotism in essays by presenting facts and deducing a conclusion.

A group of people can pick a topic from different patriotism essay ideas and write entirely different essays. There are different ways patriotic essays can be written. It all depends on how the writer views the topic.

If the essay is a narrative essay like the President John F. Kennedy’s ‘We Choose To go To the Moon speech;’

• Narrate every bit of the event. Paint a mental picture of the event so that the reader can understand the history of the essay.
• After narrating the event, draw out parts of the story that relate to patriotism.
• One after the other, explain how these parts that you have drawn relate to patriotism.

When you are writing a patriotic essay that expresses your viewpoint on an issue, the writing style will be different. In essays like “Is American patriotism the same as blind patriotism?” you are expected to present the essay in a detailed and logical manner. You can do that by using the guide below:

• Introduce the essay by explaining the topic. In the example above, you will explain American patriotism and blind patriotism.
• After the introduction, you will present facts to explain both American and blind patriotism.
• Provide correlation(s) between the facts that you have presented.
• End the essay by stating your viewpoint about the subject matter.

There are patriotism essays ideas that require you to take sides on an issue. “Does patriotism change the way we treat foreigners?” is an example of a patriotic essay that needs you to pick aside. To write a similar or more convincing patriotic essay;

• State facts and do not come from an emotional place.
• Be clear on where you stand from the beginning.
• Present your facts that support your stand on the argument.

If you want to write a patriotic essay to persuade people to do something, this is where you apply your emotions. Applying your emotions helps others to relate better and get interested in the message you’re trying to pass.

• Give reasons why you are writing the essay.
• Explain the personal and collective benefits of the essay topic.

Did you know that the best way to learn how to write an amazing patriotism essay is to read the best patriotic essay examples you can find? The truth is that you can learn most of the things simply by carefully reading works written by seasoned writers. You will quickly understand the concepts of patriotism and will also get the chance to see how a good patriotism essay is structured. Don’t miss the chance to write down all the ideas you deem important. Bottom line, you can read an excellent essay on what makes America great, and then replicate its structure and ideas in your own writing. However, make sure you avoid plagiarism.

• The first tip , we can give you is to choose the best topic possible. For example, why not write a ‘dissent is the highest form of patriotism’ essay?
• Second , don’t forget to list the values of patriotism in the intro. Each paragraph of the essay body should discuss and support a single idea. The conclusion is used to sum everything up, and further support your position.
• Third , don’t forget to make effective use of the five-paragraph essay structure (intro, three body paragraphs, conclusion).
• The last tip , and perhaps the most important one is to get help when you need it.

There are many seasoned academic writers who know exactly how to write an amazing patriotic essay, master’s thesis , or any other paper you might possibly need. Don’t hesitate to get help, especially if you are running out of time!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Patriotism Essay

Essay on Patriotism

Patriotism is more than just a word; it's a feeling that resides deep within the hearts of individuals who share a common bond with their country. In simple terms, patriotism is the love and devotion one has for their homeland. This essay explores the essence of patriotism, its significance in our daily lives, and how it contributes to the overall growth and prosperity of a nation.

Defining Patriotism

At its core, patriotism is about love and loyalty to one's country. It's the recognition of the values, culture, and shared history that bind people together. This sentiment is not limited to grand gestures or extraordinary acts; it often finds expression in simple, everyday actions that collectively contribute to the betterment of society.

Love for the Land

Patriotism begins with a genuine love for the land one calls home. It's about appreciating the natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and resources that make a country unique. Whether it's the rolling hills, expansive plains, or the sparkling waters that surround us, patriotism involves recognizing and cherishing the inherent beauty of our homeland.

Cultural Identity

A strong sense of patriotism is closely tied to cultural identity. It's the pride in the traditions, languages, and customs that have been passed down through generations. Embracing and celebrating cultural diversity fosters a sense of unity, enriching the fabric of the nation with a tapestry of different backgrounds and experiences.

Shared History

Patriotism is also rooted in a shared history that forms the foundation of a nation. Understanding the struggles, triumphs, and challenges faced by previous generations fosters a sense of continuity and responsibility. By acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who came before us, we honor their legacy and contribute to the ongoing narrative of our country.

Individual Responsibility and Civic Duty

One of the essential aspects of patriotism is the recognition of individual responsibility and civic duty. It's not just about enjoying the benefits of living in a particular country; it's about actively participating in its growth and development. This can range from voting in elections to volunteering in local communities, each act contributing to the collective well-being of the nation.

Patriotism in Daily Life

While grand displays of patriotism, such as national celebrations and parades, are noteworthy, it is in the small, everyday actions that the true essence of patriotism is often found. Acts of kindness, respect for fellow citizens, and a commitment to upholding shared values are all expressions of patriotism in daily life.

Respecting Differences

A patriotic individual understands the importance of unity in diversity. Respecting the differences among fellow citizens, whether they be cultural, religious, or ideological, is a testament to a mature and inclusive patriotism. It involves fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and accepted, contributing to a stronger and more harmonious society.

Environmental Stewardship

Caring for the environment is another manifestation of patriotism. Recognizing that the health of the land directly impacts the well-being of its inhabitants, a patriotic person takes measures to protect and preserve natural resources. This can involve sustainable practices, conservation efforts, and a commitment to reducing one's ecological footprint.

Education and Knowledge

Promoting education and knowledge is a patriotic act that invests in the future of a nation. By valuing learning, supporting educational initiatives, and encouraging intellectual curiosity, individuals contribute to the development of a knowledgeable and skilled population. A well-educated society is better equipped to face challenges and drive innovation, ensuring the continued progress of the nation.

Economic Contribution

Contributing to the economic prosperity of the country is an integral part of patriotism. This involves not only being a responsible consumer but also actively participating in the workforce. Whether through entrepreneurship, hard work, or innovation, individuals play a crucial role in building a robust and thriving economy that benefits everyone.

National Pride and Unity

Patriotism fosters a sense of national pride and unity. This pride extends beyond individual accomplishments to a collective celebration of the achievements of the entire nation. It's about recognizing and highlighting what makes the country unique and exceptional, fostering a shared sense of identity that transcends individual differences.

Challenges and Criticisms

While patriotism is generally seen as a positive force, it is essential to acknowledge that blind nationalism and exclusionary practices can emerge if taken to extremes. A healthy patriotism embraces diversity and encourages open dialogue, recognizing that different perspectives contribute to the strength and resilience of a nation.

Patriotism: A Historical Perspective

An essay on patriotism seems incomplete without delving into the historical context, particularly the role of freedom fighters. They are the heroes of times when the quest for freedom ignited the spirits of individuals who sought independence in economic, social, political, and cultural aspects.

India's Patriots

The history of India’s freedom struggle shines through the immortal courage of heroic personalities like Veer Damodar Savarkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and many more. These great patriots fought for the country and against the atrocities perpetrated on the countrymen.

Singing slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Jay Hind’, these patriots went to the cross for the country with a smile on their faces and pride in their hearts. A very inspiring quote by Swami Vivekanand, says, “Do you love the country? Then, come, let us struggle for higher and better things; look not back, no, not even if you see the dearest and nearest cry. Look no back, but forward!”

The gist of Swami Vivekanand’s thought is that when you have started your journey on the path of the country’s welfare, then there must not be any looking back. All you need is to create a list of the priority things that you want to do for your country. Once you accomplish one thing just move ahead with the next one. The slogans like Jai Hind or Bharat Mata ki Jai work as your motivation on the path of doing something for the country. So, are you prepared to do something special for the nation?

Patriotism in Different Roles

People express their patriotism in different ways and in different roles. Soldiers, scientists, doctors, politicians, and other citizens express their patriotism through their hard work in their profession.

Indian soldiers are role models for the youth of India. Highly scrupulous, positively secular, completely apolitical, with an ethos of working hard, simple needs and frugal habits, a soldier is the epitome of courage and unflinching devotion to the country.

Mangalyaan or Mars Orbiter Mission is one of the best examples of scientists' devotion toward the country. In the pandemic situation, the hardship of doctors and nurses proves their devotion towards their country.

Patriotism does not always mean that you have to sacrifice your life for your country; contributing good service towards the country and its people is also equivalent to your sacrifice.

Mathunny Mathews has set a great example of patriotism. Mathews was an Indian, a resident in Kuwait, and was one of the people credited with the safe airlift evacuation of about 1, 70,000 Indians from Kuwait during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Only celebrating the flag hoisting ceremony on 15th August and 26th January, posing for photos with the flag, and posting on social media doesn’t imply that you are a true patriot. A real patriot is a person who has a true love for his country. He fights against the atrocities upon his countrymen by insiders or outsiders of the country.

Patriotism by Freedom Fighters

An essay on patriotism seems incomplete without the mention of freedom fighters. They are the heroes of the times when we all wanted to get freedom. We all need freedom in economic, social, political, and cultural aspects. These were the people who did not give a second thought before offering complete sacrifice to stay in a free country.

Patriotism is a simple yet profound celebration of love for our country. It encompasses a range of sentiments, from appreciation of the land and culture to a commitment to individual responsibility and civic duty. Patriotism is not a static concept; it evolves as societies grow and change. By embodying the principles of patriotism in our daily lives, we contribute to the collective well-being of our nation, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come. In the end, patriotism is about recognizing the beauty in our shared journey and working together to build a stronger, more united society. Explore the meaning of patriotism, its significance, and the diverse ways in which people express their love for their country. Learn about the role of patriotism in the lives of individuals, from freedom fighters to modern-day citizens, and understand how it contributes to the development of a nation.

FAQs on Patriotism Essay

1. How is patriotism important for a country?

Patriotism helps in promoting brotherhood and belongingness among the citizens of a country. Corruption takes a back seat when the feeling of fraternity exists among the citizens. Also, the love for one’s country creates a feeling of responsibility towards the countrymen and brings forth the best of their services, in various fields.

For example, when an IAS officer is a true patriot at heart, he will ensure that there is no corruption in his immediate system and best efforts are being delivered by his team. Similarly, doctors, soldiers, scientists, and people from every walk of life put their best efforts into serving their countrymen, when they have patriotism deep down in their hearts.

2. What are the important points to be written in an essay on patriotism?

The following outlines will help you write an essay on patriotism in your own words.

What is the meaning of patriotism in simple words?

How is patriotism different from nationalism?

Who were the great patriots of India?

Role of patriotic personalities in India’s freedom struggle.

Showcasing patriotism on Independence Day and Republic Day through social media posts is not always a sign of true patriotism.

How does patriotism play a role in the development of a nation?

These are the basic points for this essay topic, and you may add more examples of patriotic personalities and emphasize the role of patriotism in safeguarding the interests of a nation, in your essay, depending upon the required word count.

3. How can I express my patriotism?

There are many ways to express your patriotism. Some common examples include:

Participating in civic duties, such as voting and volunteering.

Obeying the law and respecting the national symbols.

Educating yourself about your country's history and culture.

Supporting your country's athletes and teams in international competitions.

Contributing to social causes and community development efforts.

4. Is patriotism the same as nationalism?

No, patriotism and nationalism are not the same. Patriotism is a positive feeling of love and pride for one's country, while nationalism can be a more extreme and exclusionary ideology that emphasizes the superiority of one's own nation over others.

5. Can patriotism be dangerous?

Yes, patriotism can be dangerous if it is used to justify harmful actions, such as discrimination against other countries or groups of people. It is important to remember that patriotism should be combined with other values, such as tolerance, respect for human rights, and a commitment to international cooperation.

6. What are some good examples of patriotism in history?

There are many examples of people who have expressed patriotism in positive ways throughout history. Some famous examples include:

Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for civil rights in the United States.

Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent resistance to British rule in India.

Nelson Mandela's fight against apartheid in South Africa.

The volunteers who helped rebuild communities after natural disasters.

7. What are some common arguments against patriotism?

Some people argue that patriotism is outdated, irrelevant, or even harmful. Some common arguments against patriotism include:

It can be used to justify war and violence.

It can lead to blind obedience and a lack of critical thinking.

It can be used to exclude and discriminate against minority groups.

It can be a form of tribalism that creates divisions between people.

What Is Patriotism? Definition, Examples, Pros and Cons

• Key Concepts
• Major Sociologists
• News & Issues
• Research, Samples, and Statistics
• Recommended Reading
• Archaeology
• B.S., Texas A&M University

Simply stated, patriotism is the feeling of love for one’s country. Demonstrating patriotism—being “patriotic”—is one of the necessities of being the stereotypical “ good citizen .” However, patriotism, like many well-intentioned things, can be harmful when taken to an extreme .

Key Takeaways

• Patriotism is the feeling and expression of love for one’s home country, along with a feeling of unity with those who share those feelings
• Though it shares patriotism’s love of country, nationalism is the belief that one’s home county is superior to all others
• While considered a necessary attribute of good citizenship, when patriotism becomes politically mandatory, it can cross a line

Patriotism Definition

Along with love, patriotism is the feeling of pride, devotion, and attachment to a homeland, as well as a feeling of attachment to other patriotic citizens. The feelings of attachment may be further bound up in factors like race or ethnicity , culture, religious beliefs, or history.

Historic Perspective

Patriotism originated some 2,000 years before the rise of nationalism in the 19th century. Greek and especially Roman antiquity provide the roots for a philosophy of political patriotism that conceives of loyalty to the “patria,”—the power that the male head of a family exercised over his children—like loyalty to a political conception of the republic. It is associated with the love of law and common liberty, the search for the common good , and the duty to behave justly toward one’s country. The Roman meaning of patria is repeated in the context of the Italian city-states of the 15th century, such as Naples and Venice, as representing the common liberty of the city, which can only be safeguarded by the citizens’ civic spirit.

To Renaissance period Italian diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian Niccolò Machiavelli , the love of common liberty enabled citizens to see their private and particular interests as part of the common good and helped them to resist corruption and tyranny. While this love of the city is typically intermixed with pride in its military strength and cultural superiority, it is the political institutions and way of life of the city that form the distinctive focal point of this kind of patriotic attachment. To love the city is to be willing to sacrifice one’s own good—including one’s life—for the protection of common liberty.

While patriotism is evident throughout history, it was not always considered a civic virtue. In 18th-century Europe, for example, devotion to the state was considered a betrayal of devotion to the church.   

Other 18th-century scholars also found fault with what they considered excessive patriotism. In 1775, Samuel Johnson , whose 1774 essay The Patriot had criticized those who falsely claimed devotion to Britain, famously called patriotism “the last refuge of the scoundrel.”

Arguably, America’s first patriots were its Founding Fathers who had risked their very lives to create a nation that reflected their visions of freedom with equality. They summarized this vision in The Declaration of Independence :

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

In that single sentence, the Founders dispelled the long-held belief of the ruling British Monarchy that an individual’s pursuit of personal happiness was nothing more than a disloyal act of self-indulgence. Instead, they acknowledged that the right of each citizen to pursue personal fulfillment was essential to the qualities, such as ambition and creativity, that would fuel the nation’s economy. As a result, the pursuit of happiness became and remains the force behind America’s entrepreneurial system of free-market capitalism .  

The Declaration of Independence further states, “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” In this phrase, the Founding Fathers rejected the autocratic rule of monarchs and confirmed the revolutionary principle of “government of the people, by the people” as the basis of American democracy and the reason the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution begins with the words “We the People.”

Examples of Patriotism

There are countless ways of showing patriotism. Standing for the National Anthem and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance are obvious ones. Perhaps more importantly, many of the most beneficial acts of patriotism in the U.S. are those that both celebrate the country and make it stronger. A few of these include:

• Participating in the representative democracy by registering to vote and voting in elections .
• Volunteering for community service or running for elected government office.
• Serving on juries.
• Obeying all laws and paying taxes.
• Understanding the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities contained in the U.S. Constitution.

Patriotism vs. Nationalism

While the words patriotism and nationalism were once considered synonyms, they have taken on different connotations. While both are the feelings of love people feel for their country, the values upon which those feelings are based are very different.

Feelings of patriotism are based on the positive values the country embraces—like freedom, justice, and equality. The patriot believes that both the system of government and the people of their country are inherently good and work together for a better quality of life.

In contrast, feelings of nationalism are based on a belief that one’s country is superior to all others. It also carries a connotation of distrust or disapproval of other countries, leading to the assumption that other countries are rivals. While patriots do not automatically denigrate other countries, nationalists do, sometimes to the point of calling for their country’s global dominance. Nationalism, through its protectionist beliefs, is the polar opposite of globalism .

Historically, the effects of nationalism have been both positive and negative. While it has driven independence movements, like the Zionist movement that created modern Israel, it was also a key factor in the rise of the German Nazi Party , and the Holocaust . 

Patriotism versus nationalism arose as a political issue when U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron verbally sparred over the meaning of the terms.

At a rally on October 23, 2018, President Trump defended his populist “Make America Great Again” platform and protectionist policies of tariffs on foreign imports, officially declaring himself a “nationalist":

“A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much,” he said. “And you know what? We can't have that. You know, they have a word. It sort of became old-fashioned. It's called a nationalist. And I say, really, we’re not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I’m a nationalist, OK? I’m a nationalist.”

President Macron, speaking at the 100th Armistice Day ceremony in Paris on November 11, 2018, offered a different meaning of nationalism. He defined nationalism as “putting our nation first, and not caring about the others.” By rejecting the interests of other countries, Macon asserted, “we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential, its moral values.”

Pros and Cons of Patriotism

Few countries survive and prosper without some degree of patriotic feelings among their people. A love of country and shared pride bring the people together, helping them endure challenges. Without shared patriotic beliefs, colonial Americans may not have chosen to travel the road to independence from England. More recently, patriotism brought the American people together to overcome the Great Depression and achieve victory in World War II .

The potential downside of patriotism is that if it becomes a mandatory political doctrine, it can be used to turn groups of people against each other and can even lead the country to reject its fundamental values.

A few examples from United States history include:

As early as 1798, extreme patriotism, spurred by fears a war with France, led Congress to enact the Alien and Sedition Acts allowing the jailing of certain U.S. immigrants without due process of law and restricting the First Amendment freedoms of speech and the press .

In 1919, early fears of Communism triggered the Palmer raids resulting in the arrest and immediate deportation without trial of more than 10,000 German- and Russian-American immigrants.

After the December 7, 1941, Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor , the Franklin Roosevelt administration ordered some 127,000 American citizens of Japanese ancestry imprisoned in internment camps for the duration of World War II.

During the Red Scare of the early 1950s, the McCarthy era saw thousands of Americans accused without evidence by the government of being communists or communist sympathizers. After a series of so-called “investigations” conducted by Senator Joseph McCarthy, hundreds of those accused were ostracized and prosecuted for their political beliefs.

• Johnson, Samuel (1774). “ The Patriot .” SamuelJohnson.com
• “ Nationalism .” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Plato.stanford.edu
• Boswell, James, Hibbert, “The Life of Samuel Johnson.” Penguin Classics, ISBN 0-14-043116-0
• Diamond, Jeremy. “ Trump embraces 'nationalist' title at Texas rally .” CNN (October 23, 2018)
• Liptak. Kevin. “ Macron rebukes nationalism as Trump observes Armistice Day. ” CNN (November 12, 2018)
• 32 Patriotic Independence Day Quotes
• Comparing Nationalism in China and Japan
• What Are Natural Rights?
• What Is Nationalism? Definition and Examples
• What Is Federalism? Definition and How It Works in the US
• Quotes for Canadian Remembrance Day
• Best Non-Political Conservative Movies of All Time
• American Presidents Speak on Memorial Day
• Patriot League
• Hillary Clinton Quotes
• What Is a Tricolon?
• A Guide to Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points Speech
• Key Election Terms for Students
• Memorial Day Quotes by Ronald Reagan
• Aristotle on Democracy and Government
• Chile's Independence Day: September 18, 1810

• Table of Contents
• Random Entry
• Chronological
• Editorial Information
• About the SEP
• Editorial Board
• How to Cite the SEP
• Special Characters
• Advanced Tools
• Support the SEP
• PDFs for SEP Friends
• Make a Donation
• SEPIA for Libraries
• Entry Contents

Bibliography

Academic tools.

• Friends PDF Preview
• Author and Citation Info
• Back to Top

Patriotism raises questions of the sort philosophers characteristically discuss: How is patriotism to be defined? How is it related to similar attitudes, such as nationalism? What is its moral standing: is it morally valuable or perhaps even mandatory, or is it rather a stance we should avoid? Yet until a few decades ago, philosophers used to show next to no interest in the subject. The article on patriotism in the Historical Dictionary of Philosophy , reviewing the use of the term from the 16 th century to our own times, gives numerous references, but they are mostly to authors who were not philosophers. Moreover, of the few well known philosophers cited, only one, J. G. Fichte, gave the subject more than a passing reference – and most of what Fichte had to say actually pertains to nationalism, rather than patriotism (see Busch and Dierse 1989).

This changed in the 1980s. The change was due, in part, to the revival of communitarianism, which came in response to the individualistic, liberal political and moral philosophy epitomized by John Rawls’ Theory of Justice (1971); but it was also due to the resurgence of nationalism in several parts of the world. The beginning of this change was marked by Andrew Oldenquist’s account of morality as a matter of various loyalties, rather than abstract principles and ideals (Oldenquist 1982), and Alasdair MacIntyre’s argument that patriotism is a central moral virtue (MacIntyre 1984). Largely in response to MacIntyre, some philosophers have defended constrained or deflated versions of patriotism (Baron 1989, Nathanson 1989, Primoratz 2002). Others have argued against patriotism of any sort (Gomberg 1990, McCabe 1997, Keller 2005). There is now a lively philosophical debate about the moral credentials of patriotism that shows no signs of abating. A parallel discussion in political philosophy concerns the kind of patriotism that might provide an alternative to nationalism as the ethos of a stable, well-functioning polity.

1.1 What is patriotism?

1.2 patriotism and nationalism, 2.1 patriotism and the ethics of belief, 2.2 the moral standing of patriotism, 3. the political import of patriotism, other internet resources, related entries, 1. conceptual issues.

The standard dictionary definition reads “love of one’s country.” This captures the core meaning of the term in ordinary use; but it might well be thought too thin and in need of fleshing out. In the first philosophical book-length study of the subject, Stephen Nathanson (1993, 34–35) defines patriotism as involving:

• Special affection for one’s own country
• A sense of personal identification with the country
• Special concern for the well-being of the country
• Willingness to sacrifice to promote the country’s good

There is little to cavil about here. There is no great difference between special affection and love, and Nathanson himself uses the terms interchangeably. Although love (or special affection) is usually given expression in special concern for its object, that is not necessary. But a person whose love for her country was not expressed in any special concern for it would scarcely be considered a patriot. Therefore the definition needs to include such concern. Once that is included, however, a willingness to make sacrifices for one’s country is implied, and need not be added as a separate component. Identification with the country, too, might be thought implied in the phrase “one’s country.” But the phrase is extremely vague, and allows for a country to be called “one’s own” in an extremely thin, formal sense too. It seems that if one is to be a patriot of a country, the country must be his in some significant sense; and that may be best captured by speaking of one’s identification with it. Such identification is expressed in vicarious feelings: in pride of one’s country’s merits and achievements, and in shame for its lapses or crimes (when these are acknowledged, rather than denied).

Accordingly, patriotism can be defined as love of one’s country, identification with it, and special concern for its well-being and that of compatriots.

This is only a definition. A fuller account of patriotism is beyond the scope of this article. Such an account would say something about the patriot’s beliefs about the merits of his country, his need to belong to a group and be a part of a more encompassing narrative, to be related to a past and a future that transcend the narrow confines of an individual’s life and its mundane concerns, as well as social and political conditions that affect the ebb and flow of patriotism, its political and cultural influence, and more.

Discussions of both patriotism and nationalism are often marred by lack of clarity due to the failure to distinguish the two. Many authors use the two terms interchangeably. Among those who do not, quite a few have made the distinction in ways that are not very helpful. In the 19 th century, Lord Acton contrasted “nationality” and patriotism as affection and instinct vs. a moral relation. Nationality is “our connection with the race” that is “merely natural or physical,” while patriotism is the awareness of our moral duties to the political community (Acton 1972, 163). In the 20 th century, Elie Kedourie did the opposite, presenting nationalism as a full-fledged philosophical and political doctrine about nations as basic units of humanity within which the individual can find freedom and fulfilment, and patriotism as mere sentiment of affection for one’s country (Kedourie 1985, 73–74).

George Orwell contrasted the two in terms of aggressive vs. defensive attitudes. Nationalism is about power: its adherent wants to acquire as much power and prestige as possible for his nation, in which he submerges his individuality. While nationalism is accordingly aggressive, patriotism is defensive: it is a devotion to a particular place and a way of life one thinks best, but has no wish to impose on others (Orwell 1968, 362). This way of distinguishing the two attitudes comes close to an approach popular among politicians and widespread in everyday discourse that indicates a double standard of the form “us vs. them.” Country and nation are first run together, and then patriotism and nationalism are distinguished in terms of the strength of the love and special concern one feels for it, the degree of one’s identification with it. When these are exhibited in a reasonable degree and without ill thoughts about others and hostile actions towards them, that is patriotism; when they become unbridled and cause one to think ill of others and act badly towards them, that is nationalism. Conveniently enough, it usually turns out that we are patriots, while they are nationalists (see Billig 1995, 55–59).

There is yet another way of distinguishing patriotism and nationalism – one that is quite simple and begs no moral questions. We can put aside the political sense of “nation” that makes it identical with “country,” “state,” or “polity,” and the political or civic type of nationalism related to it. We need concern ourselves only with the other, ethnic or cultural sense of “nation,” and focus on ethnic or cultural nationalism. In order to do so, we do not have to spell out the relevant understanding of “nation”; it is enough to characterize it in terms of common ancestry, history, and a set of cultural traits. Both patriotism and nationalism involve love of, identification with, and special concern for a certain entity. In the case of patriotism, that entity is one’s patria , one’s country; in the case of nationalism, that entity is one’s natio , one’s nation (in the ethnic/cultural sense of the term). Thus patriotism and nationalism are understood as the same type of set of beliefs and attitudes, and distinguished in terms of their objects, rather than the strength of those beliefs and attitudes, or as sentiment vs. theory.

To be sure, there is much overlap between country and nation, and therefore between patriotism and nationalism; thus much that applies to one will also apply to the other. But when a country is not ethnically homogeneous, or when a nation lacks a country of its own, the two may part ways.

2. Normative issues

Patriotism has had a fair number of critics. The harshest among them have judged it deeply flawed in every important respect. In the 19 th century, Russian novelist and thinker Leo Tolstoy found patriotism both stupid and immoral. It is stupid because every patriot holds his own country to be the best of all whereas, obviously, only one country can qualify. It is immoral because it enjoins us to promote our country’s interests at the expense of all other countries and by any means, including war, and is thus at odds with the most basic rule of morality, which tells us not to do to others what we would not want them to do to us (Tolstoy 1987, 97). Recently, Tolstoy’s critique has been seconded by American political theorist George Kateb, who argues that patriotism is “a mistake twice over: it is typically a grave moral error and its source is typically a state of mental confusion” (Kateb 2000, 901). Patriotism is most importantly expressed in a readiness to die and to kill for one’s country. But a country “is not a discernible collection of discernible individuals”; it is rather “an abstraction … a compound of a few actual and many imaginary ingredients.” Specifically, in addition to being a delimited territory, “it is also constructed out of transmitted memories true and false; a history usually mostly falsely sanitized or falsely heroized; a sense of kinship of a largely invented purity; and social ties that are largely invisible or impersonal, indeed abstract …” Therefore patriotism is “a readiness to die and to kill for an abstraction … for what is largely a figment of the imagination” (907).

Some of these objections can easily be countered. Even if full-fledged patriotism does involve a belief in one’s country’s merits, it need not involve the belief that one’s country is better than all others. And the fact that a country is not a collection of “discernible individuals” and that the social ties among compatriots are “largely invisible or impersonal,” rather than palpable and face-to-face, does not show that it is unreal or imaginary. As Benedict Anderson, who coined the term “imagined community,” points out, “all communities larger than primordial villages of face-to-face contact … are imagined.” “Imagined community” is not the opposite of “real community,” but rather of community whose members have face-to-face relations (Anderson 1991, 6).

However, there is another, more plausible line of criticism of patriotism focusing on its intellectual, rather than moral credentials. Moreover, Tolstoy’s and Kateb’s arguments questioning the moral legitimacy of patriotic partiality and those highlighting the connection of patriotism with international tensions and war cannot be so easily refuted.

When asked “why do you love your country?” or “why are you loyal to it?”, a patriot is likely to take the question to mean “what is so good about your country that you should love it, or be loyal to it?” and then adduce what she believes to be its virtues and achievements. This suggests that patriotism can be judged from the standpoint of ethics of belief – a set of norms for evaluating our beliefs and other doxastic states. Simon Keller has examined patriotism from this point of view, and found it wanting.

Keller argues that whereas one’s love of and loyalty to a family member or a friend may coexist with a low estimate of the person’s qualities, patriotism involves endorsement of one’s country. If the patriot is to endorse her country, she must consider her beliefs about the country’s virtues and achievements to be based on some objectively valid standards of value and an unbiased examination of the country’s past and present record that leads to the conclusion that it lives up to those standards. However, the patriot’s loyalty is not focused on her country simply because it instantiates a set of virtues a country can have. If that were the case, and if a neighboring country turned out to have such virtues to an even higher degree, the patriot’s loyalty would be redirected accordingly. She is loyal to her country because that country, and only that country, is her country; hers is a loyalty “in the first instance.” Thus the patriot is motivated to think of the patria as blessed by all manner of virtues and achievements whether the evidence, interpreted objectively, warrants that or not. Accordingly, she forms beliefs about her country in ways different from the ways in which she forms beliefs about other countries. Moreover, she cannot admit this motivation while at the same time remaining a patriot. This leads her to hide from herself the true source of some of the beliefs involved. This is bad faith. Bad faith is bad; so is patriotism, as well as every identity, individual or collective, constituted, in part, by patriotic loyalty. This, in Keller’s view, amounts to “a clear presumptive case against patriotism’s being a virtue and for its being a vice” (Keller 2005, 587–88).

This portrayal does seem accurate as far as much patriotism as we know it is concerned. Yet Keller may be overstating his case as one against patriotism as such. When queried about one’s loyalty to one’s country, couldn’t one say: “This is my country, my home; I need no further reason to be loyal to it and show special concern for its well-being”? This might not be a very satisfactory answer; we might agree with J.B. Zimmermann that “the love for one’s country … is in many cases no more than the love of an ass for its stall” (quoted in Nathanson 1993, 3). But however egocentric, irrational, asinine, surely it qualifies as patriotism. (In a later statement of his argument (2007a, 80–81), Keller seems to be of two minds on this point.)

Many think of patriotism as a natural and appropriate expression of attachment to the country in which we were born and raised and of gratitude for the benefits of life on its soil, among its people, and under its laws. They also consider patriotism an important component of our identity. Some go further, and argue that patriotism is morally mandatory, or even that it is the core of morality. There is, however, a major tradition in moral philosophy which understands morality as essentially universal and impartial, and seems to rule out local, partial attachment and loyalty. Adherents of this tradition tend to think of patriotism as a type of group egoism , a morally arbitrary partiality to “one’s own” at odds with demands of universal justice and common human solidarity. A related objection is that patriotism is exclusive in invidious and dangerous ways. Love of one’s own country characteristically goes together with dislike of and hostility towards other countries. It tends to encourage militarism, and makes for international tension and conflict. Tolstoy’s and Kateb’s moral objections to patriotism, mentioned above, are in line with this position.

What, then, is the moral status of patriotism? The question does not admit of a single answer. We can distinguish five types of patriotism, and each needs to be judged on its merits.

2.2.1 Extreme patriotism

Machiavelli is famous (or infamous) for teaching princes that, human nature being what it is, if they propose to do their job well, they must be willing to break their promises, to deceive, dissemble, and use violence, sometimes in cruel ways and on a large scale, when political circumstances require such actions. This may or may not be relevant to the question of patriotism, depending on just what we take the point of princely rule to be. A less well known part of Machiavelli’s teaching, however, is relevant; for he sought to impart the same lesson to politicians and common citizens of a republic. “When the safety of one’s country wholly depends on the decision to be taken, no attention should be paid either to justice or injustice, to kindness or cruelty, or to its being praiseworthy or ignominious” (Machiavelli 1998 [1518], 515). The paramount interests of one’s country override any moral consideration with which they might come into conflict.

This type of patriotism is extreme, but by no means extremely rare. It is adopted much too often by politicians and common citizens alike when their country’s major interests are thought to be at stake. It is encapsulated in the saying “our country, right or wrong,” at least on the simplest and most obvious construal of this saying. Not much needs to be said about the moral standing of this type of patriotism, as it amounts to rejection of morality. “Our country, right or wrong ” cannot be right.

2.2.2 Robust patriotism

In his seminal lecture “Is Patriotism a Virtue?” Alasdair MacIntyre contrasts patriotism with the liberal commitment to certain universal values and principles. On the liberal view, where and from whom I learn the principles of morality is just as irrelevant to their contents and to my commitment to them, as where and from whom I learn the principles of mathematics is irrelevant to their contents and my adherence to them. For MacIntyre, where and from whom I learn my morality is of decisive importance both for my commitment to it and for its very contents.

There is no morality as such; morality is always the morality of a particular community. One can understand and internalize moral rules only “in and through the way of life of [one’s] community” (MacIntyre 1984, 8). Moral rules are justified in terms of certain goods they express and promote; but these goods, too, are always given as part and parcel of the way of life of a community. The individual becomes a moral agent only when informed as such by his community. He also lives and flourishes as one because he is sustained in his moral life by his community. “… I can only be a moral agent because we are moral agents … Detached from my community, I will be apt to lose my hold upon all genuine standards of judgment” (10–11).

If I can live and flourish as a moral agent only as a member of my community, while playing the role this membership involves, then my very identity is bound up with that of my community, its history, traditions, institutions, and aspirations. Therefore,

if I do not understand the enacted narrative of my own individual life as embedded in the history of my country … I will not understand what I owe to others or what others owe to me, for what crimes of my nation I am bound to make reparation, for what benefits to my nation I am bound to feel gratitude. Understanding what is owed to and by me and understanding the history of the communities of which I am a part is … one and the same thing. (16)

This leads MacIntyre to conclude that patriotism is not to be contrasted with morality; it is rather a central moral virtue, indeed the bedrock of morality.

The object of patriotic loyalty is one’s country and polity; but this does not mean that a patriot will support any government in power in her country. Here MacIntyre’s position is different from a popular version of patriotism that tends to conflate the two. The patriot’s allegiance, he says, is not to the status quo of power, but rather to “the nation conceived as a project ” (13). One can oppose one’s country’s government in the name of the country’s true character, history, and aspirations. To that extent, this type of patriotism is critical and rational. But at least some practices and projects of the patria , some of its “large interests,” must be beyond questioning and critical scrutiny. To that extent, MacIntyre grants that what he considers true patriotism is “a fundamentally irrational attitude” (13). But a more rational and therefore more constrained loyalty would be “emasculated,” rather than real patriotism.

This account of patriotism is exposed to several objections. One might question the communitarian foundations of MacIntyre’s case for patriotism: his view of the moral primacy of the community over the individual. One might find fault with the step from communitarianism to patriotism:

Even if his communitarian conception of morality were correct and even if the process of moral development ensured that group loyalty would emerge as a central virtue, no conclusion would follow about the importance of patriotism. The group to which our primary loyalty would be owed would be the group from which we had obtained our moral understanding. This need not be the community as a whole or any political unit, however. It could be one’s family, one’s town, one’s religion. The nation need not be the source of morality or the primary beneficiary of our loyalty. (Nathanson 1989, 549)

Yet another objection would focus on the fundamentally irrational character of robust patriotism: its insistence that “large interests” of the patria must be beyond questioning.

MacIntyre concedes that “on occasion patriotism might require me to support and work for the success of some enterprise of my nation as crucial to its overall project … when the success of that enterprise would not be in the best interests of mankind” (14). If so, this type of patriotism would seem to involve the rejection of such basic moral notions as universal justice and common human solidarity.

Tolstoy and other critics have argued that patriotism is incompatible with these notions – that it is egoism writ large, an exclusive and ultimately aggressive concern for one’s country, and a major cause of international tensions and war. This is not a fair objection to patriotism as such. Patriotism is defined as a special concern for one’s country’s well-being, and that is not the same as an exclusive and aggressive concern for it. But the objection is pertinent, and has considerable force, when brought up against the type of patriotism advocated by MacIntyre. MacIntyre’s patriot may promote his country’s interests in a critical, and therefore non-exclusive way, over a range of issues. But when it comes to those “large interests” of his country that are beyond criticism and must be supported in an irrational way, his concern will inevitably become exclusive, and most likely aggressive too. If justice is understood in universal, rather than parochial terms, if common human solidarity counts as a weighty moral consideration, and if peace is of paramount importance and war is morally permissible only when it is just, then this kind of patriotism must be rejected.

2.2.3 Moderate patriotism

Rejecting robust patriotism does not entail adopting sweeping impartialism that acknowledges no special obligations, and allows no partiality, to “our own.” Nor does it entail adopting the more restricted, cosmopolitan position, that allows no partiality to our own country and compatriots. There is considerable middle ground between these extremes. Exploring this middle ground has led some philosophers to construct positions accommodating both the universal and the particular point of view – both the mandates of universal justice and claims of common humanity, and the concern for the patria and compatriots.

One such position is “patriotism compatible with liberal morality,” or “liberal patriotism” for short, advocated by Marcia Baron (1989). Baron argues that the conflict between impartiality and partiality is not quite as deep as it may seem. Morality allows for both types of considerations, as they pertain to different levels of moral deliberation. At one level, we are often justified in taking into account our particular commitments and attachments, including those to our country. At another level, we can and ought to reflect on such commitments and attachments from a universal, impartial point of view, to delineate their proper scope and determine their weight. We can conclude, for example, “that with respect to certain matters and within limits, it is good for an American to judge as an American, and to put American interests first” (Baron 1989, 272). In such a case, partiality and particular concerns are judged to be legitimate and indeed valuable from an impartial, universal point of view. This means that with respect to those matters and within the same limits, it is also good for a Cuban to judge as a Cuban and to put Cuban interests first, etc. Actually, this is how we think of our special obligations to, and preferences for, our family, friends, or local community; this kind of partiality is legitimate, and indeed valuable, not only for us but for anyone.

In MacIntyre’s view, the type of partiality in general, and patriotism in particular, that is at work only at one level of moral deliberation and against the background of impartiality at another, higher level, lacks content and weight. For Baron, on the other hand, MacIntyre’s strongly particularistic type of patriotism is irrational and morally hazardous. Baron also finds problematic the popular understanding of patriotism which focuses on the country’s might and its interests as determined by whatever government is in power. She emphasizes concern for the country’s cultural and moral excellence. By doing so, she argues, our patriotism will leave room for serious, even radical criticism of our country, and will not be a force for dissension and conflict in the international arena.

Another middle-of-the-road view is “moderate patriotism” propounded by Stephen Nathanson (1989, 1993). He, too, rejects the choice between MacIntyre’s robust patriotism and cosmopolitanism, and argues that impartiality required by morality allows for particular attachments and special obligations by distinguishing different levels of moral thinking. A good example is provided by the Ten Commandments, a major document of Western morality. The wording of the commandments is for the most part universal, impartial; but they also tell us “honor your father and your mother.”

The kind of patriotism defended by Nathanson and Baron is moderate in several distinct, but related respects. It is not unbridled: it does not enjoin the patriot to promote his country’s interests under any circumstances and by any means. It acknowledges the constraints morality imposes on the pursuit of our individual and collective goals. For instance, it may require the patriot to fight for his country, but only in so far as the war is, and remains, just. Adherents of both extreme and robust patriotism will consider themselves bound to fight for their country whether its cause be just or not. Extreme patriots will also fight for it in whatever way it takes to win. Whether adherents of MacIntyre’s robust patriotism, too, will do so is a moot point. If they do not, that will be because the morality of their own community places certain constraints on warfare, whether of a particularistic type (“a German officer does not execute POWs”), or by incorporating some universalistic moral precepts (“an officer does not execute POWs”).

Moderate patriotism is not exclusive. Its adherent will show special concern for his country and compatriots, but that will not prevent him from showing concern for other countries and their inhabitants. Moreover, this kind of patriotism allows for the possibility that under certain circumstances the concern for human beings in general will override the concern for one’s country and compatriots. Such patriotism is compatible with a decent degree of humanitarianism. By contrast, both extreme and robust patriotism give greater weight to the (substantial) interests of one’s country and compatriots than to those of other countries and their inhabitants whenever these interests come into conflict.

Finally, moderate patriotism is not uncritical, unconditional, or egocentric. For an adherent of this type of patriotism, it is not enough that the country is her country. She will also expect it to live up to certain standards and thereby deserve her support, devotion, and special concern for its well-being. When it fails to do so, she will withhold support. Adherents of both extreme and robust patriotism, on the other hand, love their country unconditionally, and stand by it whatever it does as long as its “safety” or its “large interests” more generally are concerned.

Baron and Nathanson have found a middle ground between sweeping cosmopolitanism that allows for no attachment and loyalty to one’s country and compatriots, and extreme or robust patriotism that rejects universal moral considerations (except those that have become part and parcel of one’s country’s morality). They have shown that the main objections usually advanced against patriotism as such apply only to its extreme or robust varieties, but not to its “liberal” or “moderate” versions. The latter type of patriotism need not conflict with impartial justice or common human solidarity. It will therefore be judged morally unobjectionable by all except some adherents of a strict type of cosmopolitanism .

However, both Baron and Nathanson fail to distinguish clearly between showing that their preferred type of patriotism is morally unobjectionable and showing that it is morally required or virtuous, and sometimes seem to be assuming that by showing the former, they are also showing the latter. Yet there is a gap between the two claims, and the latter, stronger case for moderate patriotism still needs to be made.

2.2.4 Deflated patriotism

What is the case for the claim that moderate patriotism is morally mandatory – that we have a duty of special concern for the well-being of our country and compatriots, similar to special duties to family or friends?

Gratitude is probably the most popular among the grounds adduced for patriotic duty. Echoing Socrates in Plato’s Crito (51c-51d), Maurizio Viroli writes: “… We have a moral obligation towards our country because we are indebted to it. We owe our country our life, our education, our language, and, in the most fortunate cases, our liberty. If we want to be moral persons, we must return what we have received, at least in part, by serving the common good” (Viroli 1995, 9).

Both Socrates and Viroli are exaggerating the benefits bestowed on us by our country; surely any gratitude owed for being born or brought up is owed to parents, rather than patria . But there are important benefits we have received from our country; the argument is that we are bound to show gratitude for them, and that the appropriate way to do so is to show special concern for the well-being of the country and compatriots.

One worry here is that considerations of gratitude normally arise in interpersonal relations. We also speak of gratitude to large and impersonal entities – our school, profession, or even our country – but that seems to be an abbreviated way of referring to gratitude to particular persons who have acted on behalf of these entities. A debt of gratitude is not incurred by any benefit received. If a benefit is conferred inadvertently, or advisedly but for the wrong reason (e.g. for the sake of the benefactor’s public image), gratitude will be misplaced. We owe a moral debt of gratitude (rather than the mere “thank you” of good manners) only to those who confer benefits on us deliberately and for the right reason, namely out of concern for our own good. And we cannot talk with confidence about the reasons a large and complex group or institution has for its actions.

Perhaps we can think of compatriots as an aggregate of individuals. Do we owe them a debt of gratitude for the benefits of life among them? Again, it depends on the reason for their law-abiding behavior and social cooperation generally. But there is no single reason common to all or even most of them. Some do their part without giving much thought to the reasons for doing so; others believe that doing so is, in the long run, the most prudent policy; still others act out of altruistic motives. Only the last group – surely a tiny minority – would be a proper object of our gratitude.

Moreover, gratitude is appropriate only for a benefit conferred freely, as a gift, and not as a quid pro quo . But most of the benefits we receive from our country are of the latter sort: benefits we have paid for by our own law-abiding behavior in general, and through taxation in particular.

The benefits one has received from her country might be considered relevant to the duty of patriotism in a different way: as raising the issue of fairness . One’s country is not a land inhabited by strangers to whom we owe nothing beyond what we owe to any other human being. It is rather a common enterprise that produces and distributes a wide range of benefits. These benefits are made possible by cooperation of those who live in the country, participate in the enterprise, owe and render allegiance to the polity. The rules that regulate the cooperation and determine the distribution of burdens and benefits enjoin, among other things, special concern for the well-being of compatriots which is not due to outsiders. As Richard Dagger puts it:

Compatriots take priority because we owe it to them as a matter of reciprocity. Everyone, compatriot or not, has a claim to our respect and concern … but those who join with us in cooperative enterprises have a claim to special recognition. Their cooperation enables us to enjoy the benefits of the enterprise, and fairness demands that we reciprocate. … We must accord our fellow citizens a special status, a priority over those who stand outside the special relationship constituted by the political enterprise. […] [Our fellow citizens] have a claim on us … that extends to include the notion that compatriots take priority. (Dagger 1985, 446, 443)

This argument conflates the issue of patriotism with that of political obligation , and the notion of a patriot with that of a citizen. Unlike informal cooperation among tenants in a building, for instance, cooperation on the scale of a country is regulated by a set of laws. To do one’s part within such a cooperative enterprise is just to obey the laws, to act as a citizen. Whether we have a moral duty to obey the laws of our country is one of the central issues in modern political philosophy, discussed under the heading of political obligation. One major account of political obligation is that of fairness. If successful, that account shows that we do have a moral duty to abide by the laws of our country, to act as citizens, and that this duty is one of fairness. To fail to abide by one’s country’s laws is to fail to reciprocate, to take advantage of compatriots, to act unfairly towards them. But whereas a patriot is also a citizen, a citizen is not necessarily a patriot. Patriotism involves special concern for the patria and compatriots, a concern that goes beyond what the laws obligate one to do, beyond what one does as a citizen; that is, beyond what one ought, in fairness , to do. Failing to show that concern, however, cannot be unfair – except on the question-begging assumption that, in addition to state law, cooperation on this scale is also based on, and regulated by, a moral rule enjoining special concern for the well-being of the country and compatriots. Dagger asserts that the claim our compatriots have on us “extends to include” such concern, but provides no argument in support of this extension.

Some philosophers seek to ground patriotic duty in its good consequences (see the entry on consequentialism ). The duty of special concern for the well-being of our country and compatriots, just like other duties, universal and special, is justified by the good consequences of its adoption. Special duties mediate our fundamental, universal duties and make possible their most effective discharge. They establish a division of moral labor, necessary because our capacity of doing good is limited by our resources and circumstances. Each of us can normally be of greater assistance to those who are in some way close to us than to those who are not. By attending first to “our own,” we at the same time promote the good of humanity in the best way possible.

Patriots will find this account of their love of and loyalty to their country alien to what they feel patriotism is all about. It presents the duty of special concern for the well-being of one’s country and compatriots as a device for assigning to individuals some universal duties. Patriotic duty owes its moral force to the moral force of those universal duties. But if so, then, as a proponent of this understanding of patriotism concedes, “it turns out that ‘our fellow countrymen’ are not so very special after all” (Goodin 1988, 679). They merely happen to be the beneficiaries of the most effective way of putting into practice our concern for human beings in general. The special relationship between the patriot and the patria and compatriots – the relationship of love and identification – has been dissolved.

There is also a view of patriotic duty that, in contrast to the consequentialist account, does not dissolve, but rather highlight this relationship. That is the view of patriotism as an associative duty (see the entry on special obligations , section 4). It is based on an understanding of special relationships as intrinsically valuable and involving duties of special concern for the well-being of those we are related to. Such duties are not means of creating or maintaining those relationships, but rather their part and parcel, and can only be understood, and justified, as such, just as those relationships can only be understood as involving the special duties pertaining to them (while involving much else besides). For instance, one who denies that she has an obligation of special concern for the well-being of her friend shows that she no longer perceives and treats the person concerned as a friend, that (as far as she is concerned) the friendship is gone. One who denies that people in general have a duty of special concern for the well-being of their friends shows that she does not understand what friendship is.

Andrew Mason has offered an argument for the duty of special concern for the well-being of compatriots based on the value embodied in our relationship to compatriots, that of common citizenship. By “citizenship” he does not mean mere legal status, but takes the term in a moral sense, which involves equal standing. Citizenship in this sense is an intrinsically valuable relationship, and grounds certain special duties fellow citizens have to one another. Now citizenship obviously has considerable instrumental value; but how is it valuable in itself?

Citizenship has intrinsic value because in virtue of being a citizen a person is a member of a collective body in which they enjoy equal status with its other members and are thereby provided with recognition. This collective body exercises significant control over its members’ conditions of existence (a degree of control which none of its members individually possesses). It offers them the opportunity to contribute to the cultural environment in which its laws and policies are determined, and opportunities to participate directly and indirectly in the formation of these laws and policies. (Mason 1997, 442)

Mason goes on to claim:

Part of what it is to be a citizen is to incur special obligations: these obligations give content to what it is to be committed or loyal fellow citizen and are justified by the good of the wider relationship to which they contribute. In particular, citizens have an obligation to each other to participate fully in public life and an obligation to give priority to the needs of fellow citizens. (442)

The first of these two special duties can be put aside, as it is not specific to patriotism, but rather pertains to citizenship. It is the second that is at issue. If we indeed have a duty of special concern towards compatriots, and if that is an associative duty, that is because our association with them is intrinsically valuable and bound up with this duty. The claim about the intrinsic value of our association might be thought a moot point. But even if it were conceded, one might still resist the claim concerning the alleged duty. If someone were to deny that she has a duty of special concern for the well-being of her country and compatriots, beyond what the laws of her country mandate and beyond the concern she has for humans and humanity, would she thereby cease to be a citizen (in the sense involving equal standing)? If she were to deny that citizens generally have such an obligation, would that betray lack of understanding of what citizenship (in the relevant sense) is? If she came across two strangers in a life-threatening situation and could only save one, would she have a prima facie moral duty to save the one who was a compatriot? Mason’s position commits him to answering “yes” in each case, but all three claims are implausible (Primoratz 2009).

All the main arguments for the claim that patriotism is a duty, then, are exposed to serious objections. Unless a new, more convincing case for patriotism can be made, we have no good reason to think that patriotism is a moral duty.

If not a duty, is patriotism morally valuable? Someone showing concern for the well-being of others well beyond the degree of concern for others required of all of us is considered a morally better person than the rest of us (other things equal), an example of supererogatory virtue. Patriotism is a special concern for the well-being of one’s country and compatriots, a concern beyond what we owe other people and communities. Isn’t a patriot, then, a morally better person than the rest of us (other things equal)? Isn’t patriotism a supererogatory virtue?

One standard example of such virtue is the type of concern for those in an extreme plight shown by the late Mother Theresa, or by Doctors Without Borders. But they are exemplars of moral virtue for the same reason that makes a more modest degree of concern for others a moral duty falling on all of us. The same moral value, sympathy for and assistance to people in need, grounds a certain degree of concern for others as a general moral duty and explains why a significantly higher degree of such concern is a moral ideal. This explanation, however, does not apply in the case of patriotism. Patriotism is not but another extension of the duty of concern for others; it is a special concern for my country because it is my country, for my compatriots because they are my compatriots. Unlike Mother Theresa and Doctors Without Borders, whose concern is for all destitute, sick, dying persons they can reach, the concern of the patriot is by definition selective; and the selection is performed by the word “my.” But the word “my” cannot, by itself, play the critical role in an argument showing that a certain stance is morally valuable. If it could, other types of partialism, such as tribalism, racism, or sexism, would by the same token prove morally valuable too.

If patriotism is neither a moral duty nor a supererogatory virtue, then all its moral pretensions have been deflated. It has no positive moral significance. There is nothing to be said for it, morally speaking. We all have various preferences for places and people, tend to identify with many groups, large and small, to think of them as in some sense ours, and to show a degree of special concern for their members. But however important in other respects these preferences, identifications, and concerns might be, they lack positive moral import. They are morally permissible as long as they are kept within certain limits, but morally indifferent in themselves. The same is true of patriotism (Primoratz 2002).

2.2.5 Ethical patriotism

All four types of patriotism reviewed so far seek to defend and promote what might be termed the worldly, i.e. non-moral, interests of the patria : its political stability, military power, riches, influence in the international arena, and cultural vibrancy. They differ with regard to the lengths to which these interests will be promoted: adherents of extreme and robust patriotism will ultimately go to any length, whereas those whose patriotism is moderate or deflated will respect the limits universal moral considerations set to this pursuit. Marcia Baron also calls for expanding patriotic concern for the flourishing of one’s country to include its “moral flourishing” (see 2.2.3 above).

Thus Baron’s position is half-way between the usual, worldly kind of patriotism, and what might be described as its distinctively ethical type. The latter would put aside the country’s well-being in a mundane, non-moral sense, and would focus instead on its distinctively moral well-being, its moral identity and integrity. A patriot of this sort would not express his love for the patria by seeking to husband the country’s resources and preserve its natural beauty and its historical heritage, or make it rich, powerful, culturally preeminent, or influential on the world scene. Instead, he would seek to make sure that the country lives up to moral requirements and promotes moral values, both at home and internationally. He would work for a just and humane society at home, and seek to ensure that the country acts justly beyond its borders, and shows common human solidarity towards those in need, however distant and unfamiliar. He would also be concerned with the country’s past moral record and its implications for the present. He would support projects exploring the dark chapters of the country’s history, acknowledging the wrongs perpetrated in the past and responding to them in appropriate ways, whether by offering apologies or making amends, and by making sure such wrongs are not perpetrated again.

A patriot of this, distinctively ethical type, would want to see justice done, rights respected, human solidarity at work at any time and in any place. But her patriotism would be at work in a concern that her country be guided by these moral principles and values which is more sustained and more deeply felt than her concern that these principles and values should be put into practice generally. She would consider her own moral identity as bound up with that of her country, and the moral record of the patria as hers too. Unlike a patriot of the more worldly type, she might not feel great pride in her country’s worldly merits and achievements. She would be proud of the country’s moral record, when it inspires pride. But her patriotism would be expressed, above all, in a critical approach to her country and compatriots: she would feel entitled, and indeed called, to submit them to critical moral scrutiny, and to do so qua patriot.

While we have no moral reason to be patriots of the more usual, mundane kind, we do have reason to show special concern for our own country’s moral well-being. As a rule, when someone is wronged, someone else benefits from that. When a country maintains an unjust or inhumane practice, or enacts and enforces an unjust or inhumane law or policy, at least some, and sometimes many of its citizens reap benefits from it. Sometimes such a practice, legislation or policy affects people beyond the country’s borders; in such cases, the population as a whole may benefit. The responsibility for the injustice or lack of basic human solidarity lies with those who make the decisions and those who implement them. It also lies with those who give support to such decisions and their implementation. But some responsibility in this connection may also devolve on those who have no part in the making of the decisions or in their implementation, nor even provide support, but accept the benefits such a practice, law or policy generates.

A degree of complicity may also accrue to those who have no part in designing or putting into effect immoral practices, laws or policies, do not support them or benefit from them, but do benefit in various ways from being citizens of the country. One may derive significant psychological benefit from membership in and identification with a society or polity: from the sense of belonging, support and security such membership and identification afford. If one accepts such benefits, while knowing about the immoral practices, laws or policies at issue, or having no excuse for not knowing about them, that, too, may be seen as implicating him in those wrongs. To be sure, he makes no causal contribution to those wrongdoings, has no control over their course, and does not accept benefits from them. But in accepting benefits from his association with the wrongdoers, he may be seen as underwriting those wrongs and joining the class of those properly blamed. His complicity is lesser and the blame to be laid at his door is lesser too – but he still bears some moral responsibility and deserves some moral blame on that account. He cannot say in good faith: “Those wrongs have nothing to do with me. I am in no way implicated in them.”

If this is correct, we have reason to develop and exercise a special concern for the moral identity and integrity of our country. By doing so, we will be attending to an important aspect of our own moral identity and integrity. While patriotism of the more usual, worldly kind is neither morally required nor virtuous, but at best morally permitted, ethical patriotism can, under certain fairly common circumstances, be a moral duty (Primoratz 2006).

While moral philosophers debate the standing of patriotism as an instance of the problem of reconciling universal moral considerations with particular attachments and loyalties, political theorists are primarily interested in patriotism as an ethos of the well-ordered polity and an antidote to nationalism. Since the rise of the nation-state, it has been widely held that some form of nationalism is indispensable as a pre-political basis of the unity of the state that makes for solidarity among citizens and provides them with motivation to participate in public life and make sacrifices for the common good. As Roger Scruton put it, “for a liberal state to be secure, the citizens must understand the national interest as something other than the interest of the state . Only the first can evoke in them the sacrificial spirit upon which the second depends” (Scruton 1990, 319). But in the course of the 20 th century nationalism was deeply compromised. That has led political theorists to look for alternatives. Some have argued that an emphatically political patriotism could perform the unifying function of nationalism while avoiding its perils. This “new patriotism” puts aside, or at least de-emphasizes, pre-political ties such as common ancestry, language, or culture, and enjoins love of, and loyalty to, one’s political community, its laws and institutions, and the rights and liberties they make possible.

In view of the disastrous record of national socialism, it is not surprising that German thinkers in particular should be suspicious of patriotism as long as it has not been dissociated from nationalism. As early as 1959, political theorist Dolf Sternberger called for a new understanding of the concept of fatherland. “The fatherland is the ‘republic,’ which we create for ourselves. The fatherland is the constitution, to which we give life. The fatherland is the freedom which we truly enjoy only when we ourselves promote it, make use of it, and stand guard over it” (Sternberger 1990, 12). In 1979, on the 30 th anniversary of the Federal Republic, he coined the term “constitutional patriotism” ( Verfassungspatriotismus ) to describe the loyalty to the patria understood in these terms (13–16). The term was later adopted by Jürgen Habermas in the context of a case for overcoming pre-political, i.e. national and cultural, loyalties in public life, and supplanting them with a new, postnational, purely political identity embodied in the laws and institutions of a free and democratic state. Habermas argues that this identity, expressed in and reinforced by constitutional patriotism, can provide a solid foundation for such a state, given the ethnic and cultural heterogeneity characteristic of most countries in western Europe. It can also facilitate further European integration, and provide an antidote to the “chauvinism of affluence” tempting these countries (Habermas 1990).

Constitutional patriotism is the most widely discussed, but not the sole variety of “new patriotism.” Another is “covenanted patriotism” advocated by John H. Schaar as appropriate for countries whose population is much too ethnically and culturally heterogeneous to allow for “natural patriotism.” Schaar’s paradigmatic example is the United States, whose citizens “were bonded together not by blood or religion, not by tradition or territory, not by the walls and traditions of a city, but by a political idea … by a covenant, by dedication to a set of principles and by an exchange of promises to uphold and advance certain commitments” (Schaar 1981, 291). Still another variety is the “patriotism of liberty” propounded by Maurizio Viroli, who calls for a return to what patriotism used to be before it was harnessed in the service of the nation-state and submerged in nationalism: love of the laws and institutions of one’s polity and the common liberty they make possible (Viroli 1995).

This new, emphatically political version of patriotism has been met with both sympathy and skepticism. Those sympathetic to it have been discussing the prospects of a European constitutional patriotism (see Müller 2007, 93–139). Skeptics have argued that patriotism disconnected from all pre-political attachments and identities can generate only much too thin a sense of identity and much too weak a motivation for political participation – that, thus understood, “patriotism is not enough” (Canovan 2000).

• Acton, Lord, 1972, “Nationality,” Essays on Freedom and Power , Gloucester: Peter Smith, 141–70.
• Addams, Jane, 2004, “Patriotism in Time of War,” Midwest Studies in Philosophy , 28: 102–18.
• Anderson, Benedict, 1991, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism , rev. ed., London: Verso.
• Anderson, John P., 2003, “Patriotic Liberalism,” Law and Philosophy , 22: 577–95.
• Appiah, Kwame Anthony, 2005, The Ethics of Identity , Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Archard, David, 1995, “Three Ways to Be a Good Patriot,” Public Affairs Quarterly , 9: 101–13.
• –––, 1999, “Should We Teach Patriotism?” Studies in Philosophy and Education , 18: 157–73.
• Arneson, Richard J., 2005, “Do Patriotic Ties Limit Global Justice Duties?” Journal of Ethics , 9: 127–50.
• Audi, Robert, 2009, “Nationalism, Patriotism, and Cosmopolitanism in an Age of Globalization,” Journal of Ethics , 13: 365–81.
• Axinn, Sidney, 1986, “Honor, Patriotism and Ultimate Loyalty,” in Avner Cohen (ed.), Nuclear Weapons and the Future of Humanity , Totowa: Rowman & Allanheld, 273–88.
• –––, 1987, “Loyalty and the Limits of Patriotism,” in Kenneth Kipnis and Diana T. Meyers (eds.), Political Realism and International Morality , Boulder: Westview Press, 239–50.
• Bader, Veit, 1999, “For Love of Country,” Political Theory , 27: 379–97.
• –––, 2005, “Reasonable Impartiality and Priority for Compatriots: A Critique of Liberal Nationalism’s Main Flaws,” Ethical Theory and Moral Practice , 8: 83–103.
• Baron, Marcia, 1989, “Patriotism and ‘Liberal’ Morality,” in D. Weissbord (ed.), Mind, Value, and Culture: Essays in Honor of E.M. Adams , Atascadero: Ridgeview Publishing Co., 269–300. Reprinted with a postscript in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• Billig, Michael, 1995, Banal Nationalism , London: Sage Publications.
• Blattberg, Charles, 2003, “Patriotic, Not Deliberative, Democracy,” CRISPP: Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy , 6: 155–74.
• Boutros, Victor, 2003, “Patriotism and International Aid: An Analysis of Alasdair MacIntyre’s ‘Is Patriotism a Virtue?’,” Contemporary Philosophy , 25: 9–16.
• Boxill, Bernard B., 2009, “Frederick Douglass’s Patriotism,” Journal of Ethics , 13: 301–17.
• Breda, Vito, 2004, “The Incoherence of the Patriotic State: A Critique of ‘Constitutional Patriotism’,” Res Publica , 10: 247–65.
• Brighouse, Harry, 2006, “Justifying Patriotism,” Social Theory and Practice , 32: 547–58.
• Busch, Hans Jürgen, and Ulrich Dierse, 1989, “Patriotismus,” in Joachim Ritter and Karlfried Gründer (eds.), Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie , Basel: Schwabe & Co., Vol. 7: 207–17.
• Cafaro, Philip, 1995, “Patriotism as an Environmental Virtue,” Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics , 23: 185–302.
• Callan, Eamon, 2006, “Love, Idolatry, and Patriotism,” Social Theory and Practice , 32: 525–46.
• –––, 2010, “The Better Angels of Our Nature: Patriotism and Dirty Hands,” Journal of Political Philosophy , 18: 249–70.
• Canovan, Margaret, 2000, “Patriotism Is Not Enough,” British Journal of Political Science , 30: 413–32. Reprinted in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• Cohen, Joshua (ed.), 1996, For Love of Country: Debating the Limits of Patriotism , Boston: Beacon Press.
• Coons, Christian, 2002, “Wellman’s ‘Reductive’ Justification for Redistributive Policies that Favor Compatriots,” Ethics , 111: 782–87.
• Cronin, Ciaran, 2003, “Democracy and Collective Identity: A Defence of Constitutional Patriotism,” European Journal of Philosophy , 11: 1–28.
• Dagger, Richard, 1985, “Rights, Boundaries, and the Bonds of Community: A Qualified Defense of Moral Parochialism,” American Political Science Review , 79: 436–47.
• Dombrowski, Daniel, 1992, “On Why Patriotism Is not a Virtue,” International Journal of Applied Philosophy , 7: 1–4.
• Fullinwider, Robert K., 1992, “The New Patriotism,” in Claudia Mills (ed.), Values and Public Policy , Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 449–54.
• –––, 1996, “Patriotic History,” in Robert K. Fullinwider (ed.), Public Education in a Multicultural Society: Policy, Theory, Critique , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 203–28.
• Gaffney, James, 1993, “Patriotism: Virtue or Vice?” Philosophy and Theology , 8: 129–47. A revised version is reprinted in Igor Primoratz (ed.), 2007, Politics and Morality , Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Gilbert, Margaret, 2009, “ Pro Patria : An Essay on Patriotism,” Journal of Ethics , 13: 319–46.
• Gomberg, Paul, 1990, “Patriotism Is Like Racism,” Ethics , 101: 144–50. Reprinted in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• –––, 2000, “Patriotism in Sports and in War,” in Torbjorn Tannsjo and Claudio Tamburrini (eds.), Values in Sport , London: Taylor & Francis, 87–98.
• Goodin, Robert E., 1988, “What Is So Special about Our Fellow Countrymen?” Ethics , 98: 663–86. Reprinted in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• Gordon, Rupert H., 2000, “Modernity, Freedom, and the State: Hegel’s Concept of Patriotism,” Review of Politics , 62: 295–325.
• Habermas, Jürgen, 1992, “Citizenship and National Identity: Some Reflections on the Future of Europe,” Praxis International , 12: 1–19. Reprinted in Habermas, Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy , William Rehg (trans.), Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1998.
• Hand, Michael, 2011, “Should We Promote Patriotism in Schools?” Political Studies , 59: 328–47.
• Hughes, Martin, 1989, “Is Patriotism a Virtue?” Cogito , 3: 98–104.
• Hulas, Maciej, and Stanislaw Fel (eds.), 2015, Intricacies of Patriotism: Towards a Complexity of Patriotic Allegiance , Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.
• Kateb, George, 2000, “Is Patriotism a Mistake?” Social Research , 67: 901–24; reprinted in G. Kateb, Patriotism and Other Mistakes , Ithaca: Yale University Press, 2006.
• Kedourie, Elie, 1985, Nationalism , 3 rd edition, London: Hutchinson.
• Keller, Simon, 2005, “Patriotism as Bad Faith,” Ethics , 115: 563–92.
• –––, 2007a, The Limits of Loyalty , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• –––, 2007b, “Are Patriotism and Universalism Compatible?” Social Theory and Practice , 32: 609–24.
• –––, 2009, “Making Nonsense of Loyalty to Country,” in Bodewijn de Bruin and Christopher S. Zurn (eds.), New Waves in Political Philosophy , Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 87–104.
• Khan, Carrie-Ann Biondi, 2003, “The Possibility of Liberal Patriotism,” Public Affairs Quarterly , 17: 265–90.
• Klampfer, Friderik, 1998, “Can the Appeal to the Intrinsic Value of Citizenship Really Help Us Justify Special Duties to Compatriots?” in P. Kampits, K. Kokai and A. Weiberg (eds.), Applied Ethics: Proceedings of the 21st International Wittgenstein Symposium (Volume 1), Kirchberg am Wechsel: Austrian Ludwig Wittgenstein Society, 358–63. 
• Kleingeld, Pauline, 2000, “Kantian Patriotism,” Philosophy & Public Affairs , 29: 313–41.
• –––, 2003, “Kant’s Cosmopolitan Patriotism,” Kant–Studien , 94: 299–316.
• Kleinig, John, Simon Keller, and Igor Primoratz, 2015, The Ethics of Patriotism: A Debate , Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.
• Kodelja, Zdenko, 2011, “Is Education for Patriotism Morally Required, Permitted or Unacceptable?” Studies in Philosophy and Education , 30: 127–40.
• Königs, Peter, 2012, “Patriotism: A Case Study in the Philosophy of Emotions,” Grazer Philosophische Studien , 85: 299–309.
• Macedo, Stephen, 2011, “Just Patriotism?” Philosophy and Social Criticism , 37: 413–23.
• Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1998 [1518], The Discourses , B. Crick (ed.), L.J. Walker (trans.), Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
• MacIntyre, Alasdair, 1984, Is Patriotism a Virtue? (The Lindley Lecture), Lawrence: University of Kansas. Reprinted in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• Mason, Andrew, 1997, “Special Obligations to Compatriots,” Ethics , 107: 427–47.
• McCabe, David, 1997, “Patriotic Gore, Again,” Southern Journal of Philosophy , 35: 203–23. Reprinted in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• McHugh Griffin, Michelle, 2007, “As a Woman I Have No Country,” Peace Review , 10: 255–59.
• Michelman, Frank I., 2001, “Morality, Identity and Constitutional Patriotism,” Ratio Juris , 14: 253–70.
• Miller, David, 2005, “Reasonable Partiality towards Compatriots,” Ethical Theory and Moral Practice , 8: 63–81.
• Miller, Richard W., 1997, “Killing for the Homeland: Patriotism, Nationalism and Violence,” Journal of Ethics , 1: 165–85.
• Müller, Jan-Werner, 2007, Constitutional Patriotism , Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Montague, Phillip, 1994, “Patriotism and Political Obligation,” Journal of Social Philosophy , 25: 44–56.
• Moore, Margaret, 2009, “Is Patriotism an Associative Duty?” Journal of Ethics , 13: 383–99.
• Nathanson, Stephen, 1989, “In Defense of ‘Moderate Patriotism’,” Ethics , 99: 535–52. Reprinted in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• –––, 1993, Patriotism, Morality, and Peace , Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
• –––, 2009, “Patriotism, War, and the Limits of Permissible Partiality,” Journal of Ethics , 13: 401–22.
• –––, 2016, “Immigration, Citizenship, and the Clash Between Partiality and Impartiality,” in Ann Cudd and Win-chiat Lee (eds.), Citizenship and Immigration , New York: Springer, 137–52.
• Nussbaum, Martha, 2012, “Teaching Patriotism: Love and Critical Freedom,” University of Chicago Law Review , 79: 215–51.
• Oldenquist, Andrew, 1982, “Loyalties,” Journal of Philosophy , 79: 173–93. Reprinted in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• Orwell, George, 1968, “Notes on Nationalism,” Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters , Sonia Orwell and Ian Angus (eds.), London: Secker & Warburg, vol. 3, 361–80.
• Papastephanou, Marianna, 2017, “Patriotism and Pride beyond Richard Rorty and Martha Nussbaum,” International Journal of Philosophical Studies , 25: 484–503.
• Primoratz, Igor, 2002, “Patriotism: A Deflationary View,” Philosophical Forum , 33: 443–58.
• –––, 2006, “Patriotism: Worldly and Ethical,” in Igor Primoratz and Aleksandar Pavković (eds.), Identity, Self-Determination and Secession , Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, 91–106.
• –––, 2009, “Patriotism and the Value of Citizenship,” Acta Analytica , 24: 63–67.
• Primoratz, Igor (ed.), 2002, Patriotism , Amherst: Humanity Books.
• Primoratz, Igor, and Aleksandar Pavković (eds.), 2007, Patriotism: Philosophical and Political Perspectives , Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing.
• Sardoc, Mitja (ed.), 2020, Handbook of Patriotism , Cham: Springer.
• Schaar, John H., 1981, “The Case for Patriotism,” Legitimacy in the Modern State , New Brunswick: Transaction Books, 285–311. Reprinted in Primoratz (ed.), 2002.
• Scruton, Roger, 1990, “In Defence of the Nation,” The Philosopher on Dover Beach , Manchester: Carcanet, 299–328.
• Shue, Henry, 1988, “Mediating Duties,” Ethics , 98: 687–704.
• Singer, Peter, 2002, One World: The Ethics of Globalization , New Haven: Yale University Press.
• Somerville, John, 1981, “Patriotism and War,” Ethics , 91: 568–78.
• Soutphommasane, Tim, 2012, The Virtuous Citizen: Patriotism in a Multicultural Society , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Sternberger, Dolf, 1990, Verfassungspatriotismus ( Schriften , Vol. 10), Frankfurt/M.: Insel Verlag.
• Tan, Kok-Chor, 2004, Justice without Borders: Cosmopolitanism, Nationalism and Patriotism , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Tolstoy, Leo, 1987, “On Patriotism” and “Patriotism, or Peace?” Writings on Civil Disobedience and Nonviolence , Philadelphia: New Society Publishers, 51–123, 137–47.
• Toth, Szilard Janos, 2019, “Justifying Republican Patriotism,” Philosophy and Society , 30: 287–303.
• Van Hooft, Stan, 2009, “Political Patriotism,” Journal of Applied Ethics and Philosophy , 1: 20–29.
• Vandevelde, Toon, 1997, “Communitarianism and Patriotism,” Ethical Perspectives , 4: 180–90.
• Vincent, Andrew, 2009, “Patriotism and Human Rights: An Argument for Unpatriotic Patriotism,” Journal of Ethics , 13: 347–64.
• Viroli, Maurizio, 1995, For Love of Country: An Essay on Patriotism and Nationalism , Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Weil, Simone, 1952, The Need for Roots , trans. A.F. Wills, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
• Wellman, Christopher Heath, 2000, “Relational Facts in Liberal Political Theory: Is there Magic in the Pronoun ‘My’?” Ethics , 110: 537–62.
• –––, 2001, “Friends, Compatriots, and Special Political Obligations,” Political Theory , 29: 217–36.
• White, John, 2001, “Patriotism without Obligation,” Journal of Philosophy of Education , 35: 141–51.
• Woolf, Virginia, 1938, Three Guineas , London: Hogarth Press.
• Zmora, Hillay, 2004, “Love of Country and Love of Party: Patriotism and Human Nature in Machiavelli,” History of Political Thought , 25: 424–45.

How to cite this entry . Preview the PDF version of this entry at the Friends of the SEP Society . Look up topics and thinkers related to this entry at the Internet Philosophy Ontology Project (InPhO). Enhanced bibliography for this entry at PhilPapers , with links to its database.

[Please contact the author with suggestions.]

communitarianism | consequentialism | cosmopolitanism | egoism | impartiality | loyalty | nationalism | obligations: special | political obligation | responsibility: collective

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Simon Keller, Stephen Nathanson, and Thomas Pogge for helpful comments on a draft of this article.

Copyright © 2020 by Igor Primoratz < igorprim @ gmail . com >

• Accessibility

Support SEP

Mirror sites.

View this site from another server:

• Info about mirror sites

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is copyright © 2023 by The Metaphysics Research Lab , Department of Philosophy, Stanford University

Library of Congress Catalog Data: ISSN 1095-5054

Essay on Patriotism for Students and Children

500+ words essay on patriotism.

Essay on Patriotism: Patriotism refers to the passionate love one has for their country. This virtue pushes to citizens of a country to work for their country selflessly and make it better. A truly developed country is made up of true patriots. In other words, patriotism means keeping the country’s interest first and then thinking about oneself. Patriotism can be specifically seen during times of war. Moreover, it helps in building the nation stronger. There are other significances of patriotism as well.

Significance of Patriotism

Usually, we refer to our country as our motherland. This further proves that we must have the same love for our country as we have for our mother. After all, our country is no less than a mother; it nurtures us and helps us grow. Everyone must possess the virtue of patriotism as it makes it better.

In addition, it also enhances the life quality of the citizens . It does that by making people work for the collective interest of the country. When everyone works for the betterment of the country, there would be no conflict of interest. Thus, a happier environment will prevail.

After that, peace and harmony will be maintained through patriotism. When the citizens have the spirit of brotherhood, they will support one another. Hence, it will make the country more harmonious.

In short, patriotism does have great importance in developing the country. It eliminates any selfish and harmful motives which in turn lessens corruption. Similarly, when the government becomes free of corruption , the country will develop faster.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Great Patriots of India

India has had a fair share of patriots from the very beginning. The struggle for independence gave birth to various patriots. These patriots have made a lot of sacrifices for the county to flourish and prosper. Their names have gone down in history and are still taken with respect and admiration. Some of the greatest patriots of India were Rani Lakshmi Bai, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and Maulana Azad.

Rani Lakshmi Bai was one of the most famous patriots of the country. Her courage and bravery are still talked about. Her name always comes up in the revolt of 1857. She revolted against the British rule and to fight for independence. She gave her life fighting on the battlefield for our country.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh is another name that is synonymous with patriotism. He was determined to free India from the clutches of the British rule. He was a part of several freedom struggles. Similarly, he also started a revolution for the same. He dedicated his life to this mission and died as a martyr for the love of his country.

Maulana Azad was a true patriot. The first education minister of India played a great role in the freedom struggle. He traveled through cities and created awareness of the injustices by the British. He united people through his activism and led India to freedom.

In conclusion, these are just a few who were patriots of the country. They lived for their country and did not hesitate before devoting their lives to it. These names are shining examples for the generations to come. We must possess patriotism and work for our motherland to see it succeed.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Why is patriotism important?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Patriotism is important for the development of a country. It helps in nation-building and driving people to work for the betterment of the country. Furthermore, it fights corruption as well.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Name some of the patriots of India.”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”:”India has had a lot of true patriots, especially during the British reign. Some of the renowned ones were Rani Lakshmi Bai, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, and Maulana Azad.”} }] }

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay on Patriotism: Samples for Students in 100, 250, 500 Words

• Updated on  
• Oct 13, 2023

Essay on Patriotism: Patriotism can be defined as one’s love and loyalty towards their country. Everybody loves to serve their country and take it to new heights. These people are referred to as patriots. The feeling of patriotism allows a set of people to come closer. It must be promoted for the betterment of the country as well as the people residing there. 

Those who are true patriots work towards building their nation in whichever way they can. Here are essays on Patriotism of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exam. You can select any Patriotism essay as per your interest. 

Also Read: Maharana Pratap: The Patriotic Hero of the Century

Essay on Patriotism in 100 Words

Patriotism in India is a fervent devotion and love for one’s country, deeply ingrained in its rich history and diverse culture. It transcends mere flag-waving and extends to an unwavering commitment to the nation’s progress. Patriotism finds expression in the sacrifices made by countless freedom fighters for India’s independence, serving as a timeless inspiration.

This sentiment is not confined to any particular religion, caste, or creed; it unites Indians from all backgrounds. It is evident in the respect for the national flag and anthem, symbolizing the collective pride of  1.4 billion people.

Patriotism isn’t blind allegiance; it involves constructive criticism and an earnest desire for India to reach greater heights. It fuels the spirit of nation-building, fostering unity in diversity and preserving the values that make India unique. In a rapidly changing world, patriotism remains the bedrock upon which India’s future is built, reminding all Indians of their duty to their beloved motherland.

Also Read- Famous Personalities Of India

Essay on Patriotism in 250 Words

Patriotism is a powerful force that has shapes a country’s history and continues to influence its present. In this essay, we will explore the significance of patriotism in India, its historical roots, and its manifestations in contemporary society.

Historical Roots of Patriotism

India’s rich history of patriotism can be traced back to its struggle for independence against British colonial rule. Visionaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose inspired millions with their unwavering love for the nation. Their sacrifices and dedication instilled a deep sense of patriotism in the hearts of Indians.

Diverse and United

India’s diversity in culture, language, and religion is a testament to its unity in diversity. Patriotism in India transcends these differences, binding the nation together. Indians take pride in their heritage, from the majestic Himalayas to the serene backwaters of Kerala. This love for the motherland fosters a sense of belonging and unity.

Modern Expressions of Patriotism

Today, patriotism finds expression in various forms. Indians celebrate their independence on August 15th with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades, and cultural events. Social media has provided a platform for citizens to express their love for India, and campaigns like “Make in India” promote economic patriotism by supporting indigenous products.

Patriotism in India is a deep-seated emotion that binds its people together. Rooted in history, it has evolved to suit the modern world. As India continues to progress, patriotism remains a guiding force, reminding citizens of their responsibilities and the importance of unity in building a brighter future for the nation.

Also Read: Education of Rabindranath Tagore

Essay on Patriotism in 500 Words 

Introduction.

Patriotism in India is an enduring sentiment deeply etched into the collective psyche of its citizens. This essay explores the multifaceted dimensions of patriotism, tracing its historical roots, examining its contemporary expressions, and highlighting the challenges and responsibilities it entails.

Historical Legacy of Patriotism

1. The Freedom Struggle: Patriotism in India finds its origins in the arduous struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Visionaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose became iconic symbols of unwavering love for the nation. Their sacrifices and dedication stirred the hearts of millions, laying the foundation for modern Indian patriotism.

2. Iconic Moments: The Salt March, Quit India Movement, and Dandi March stand as enduring symbols of patriotic fervor. These historic events not only marked milestones in the journey towards independence but also demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance and unity.

Diverse and Unified

1. Unity in Diversity: India’s remarkable diversity in culture, language, religion, and geography is a testament to its unity in diversity. Despite these differences, Indians share a common bond of love for the motherland. This sense of belonging transcends regional and cultural boundaries.

2. Cultural Expressions: India’s rich cultural tapestry, from the majestic Himalayas to the vibrant festivals of Holi and Diwali, serves as a canvas for expressions of patriotism. Songs, dances, and traditional rituals celebrate the nation’s heritage and its people’s attachment to it.

1. National Celebrations: Independence Day and Republic Day are grand celebrations that unite the nation. Flag hoisting ceremonies, parades, and cultural performances showcase the pride Indians take in their country’s achievements.

2. Economic Patriotism: Initiatives like “Make in India” promote economic patriotism by encouraging the consumption of indigenous products. Supporting local businesses and industries is seen as a way to contribute to the nation’s growth.

Challenges and Responsibilities

1. Upholding Democratic Values: Patriotism must go hand in hand with upholding democratic values. Respecting the Constitution, ensuring equal rights, and promoting social justice are crucial aspects of being a patriotic Indian.

2. Tackling Divisions: While patriotism unites, it can also be misused to promote division and intolerance. Indians must be vigilant against divisive ideologies that threaten the nation’s unity.

3. Environmental Responsibility: Protecting India’s natural heritage is an essential facet of patriotism. Preserving forests, rivers, and wildlife ensures a sustainable future for the country.

Patriotism in India is a timeless bond that has withstood the test of time. Rooted in a history of struggle, it has evolved to encompass the vast diversity of the nation. 

As India continues to progress on the global stage, patriotism remains a guiding force, reminding citizens of their responsibilities and the importance of unity in shaping a brighter future for the nation. It is a sentiment that continues to inspire and define India’s identity in the modern world.

Ans. Patriotism arises organically and holds great importance in safeguarding a nation’s cultural and historical legacy. It involves a deep sense of pride in being a representative of one’s country. Patriotism encompasses a profound love for the nation and a willingness to endure any hardship for the sake of one’s homeland.

Ans. The top 5 points of a best patriot are a unique fondness for one’s native land, a feeling of personal connection to the nation, a particular care for the welfare of the country and readiness to make sacrifices to advance the nation’s welfare.

Ans. The term “patriot” refers to an individual who harbors a deep affection for their homeland and is willing to courageously uphold and protect it. This definition has remained constant since the word was introduced to the English language in the 16th century, although it has faced occasional scrutiny and debate over the years.

We hope that this blog essay on Patriotism has given you some known and unknown facts and secrets about Patriotism. For more amazing reads on essay writing , follow Leverage Edu. 

Aditi Gupta

A bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication graduate, I am an enthusiastic writer. I love to write about impactful content which can help others. I love to binge watch and listen to music during my free time.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

Essay on Patriotism

Students are often asked to write an essay on Patriotism in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Patriotism

Understanding patriotism.

Patriotism is a strong emotional attachment to one’s country. It’s about loving your homeland, its culture, traditions, and values. It’s not just about waving flags on national holidays, but respecting the nation’s laws and working for its betterment.

Importance of Patriotism

Patriotism is important because it fosters unity and helps in nation-building. It encourages citizens to contribute positively to their country’s prosperity. A patriotic person will always strive for the welfare of their nation.

Patriotism Vs Nationalism

While patriotism is about love for one’s country, nationalism can sometimes lead to a sense of superiority over other nations. It’s important to maintain a balance and respect all nations equally.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Patriotism
• Speech on Patriotism

250 Words Essay on Patriotism

Patriotism, often perceived as an intense emotion, is the feeling of love and devotion towards one’s country. It is a bond that connects citizens, transcending their individual differences, and unifying them under a shared identity. However, patriotism is not merely an emotion; it is a value that guides actions and behaviors.

The Essence of Patriotism

At its core, patriotism is about responsibility. It compels individuals to contribute to the well-being of their nation. This could range from voting and obeying laws to serving in the military or volunteering for community service. It fosters a sense of community, encouraging citizens to work for the collective good rather than personal gain.

Patriotism vs Nationalism

While patriotism is a unifying force, it’s crucial to distinguish it from nationalism. Nationalism, when extreme, can lead to xenophobia and intolerance, as it involves placing one’s country’s interests above all others. On the other hand, patriotism is about appreciating one’s country while respecting the sovereignty and value of other nations.

The Role of Patriotism in Democracy

In a democratic society, patriotism plays a vital role. It instills a sense of civic duty, ensuring citizens participate actively in the democratic process. Moreover, it encourages critical thinking, as true patriots question and challenge their government’s actions to ensure they align with the nation’s best interests.

In conclusion, patriotism is a complex and multifaceted concept. It is more than just love for one’s country; it’s about responsibility, respect, and active participation in civic life. It’s a force that, when harnessed correctly, can lead to a stronger, more inclusive society.

500 Words Essay on Patriotism

The concept of patriotism.

Patriotism, in its simplest form, can be defined as the love and devotion one feels for their homeland. However, the concept extends beyond mere emotional attachment and encompasses a broad spectrum of thoughts, actions, and commitments. It’s a complex amalgam of pride, gratitude, and a sense of duty. This essay aims to delve into the multifaceted notion of patriotism and how it shapes our society.

Patriotism and National Identity

Patriotism is intrinsically linked to national identity. It is a force that binds a diverse group of individuals into a cohesive whole, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. It is the thread that weaves the social fabric and gives a nation its unique character. Patriotism fuels the collective consciousness of a nation’s people, inspiring them to work towards the common good and uphold the values that define their nationhood.

Critical Patriotism

However, patriotism should not be equated with blind nationalism or jingoism. It must be understood as a nuanced sentiment that balances pride in one’s country with a critical perspective. This approach, often referred to as ‘critical patriotism’, encourages individuals to question and challenge their government’s actions when they seem unjust or contrary to the nation’s values. It underscores the importance of active citizenship and the role of dissent in a democratic society.

Patriotism and Global Responsibility

In the era of globalization, the concept of patriotism has evolved to accommodate a broader, more inclusive perspective. It is no longer limited to one’s loyalty towards their nation but extends to a sense of responsibility towards the global community. This form of ‘global patriotism’ recognizes the interconnectedness of our world and the shared challenges we face, such as climate change, poverty, and inequality. It promotes international cooperation and solidarity, emphasizing that patriotism and cosmopolitanism are not mutually exclusive.

The Role of Education in Nurturing Patriotism

Education plays a crucial role in nurturing patriotism. It is through education that young minds are introduced to their nation’s history, culture, and values. However, the goal of education should not be to instill a narrow, uncritical form of patriotism. Instead, it should aim to foster a form of patriotism that encourages critical thinking, social responsibility, and global awareness. This approach can help create a generation of patriots who are not only proud of their heritage but are also committed to their nation’s progress and the betterment of the global community.

In conclusion, patriotism is a complex and multifaceted concept that goes beyond mere emotional attachment to one’s country. It is about embracing one’s national identity, questioning and challenging injustices, recognizing our global responsibilities, and striving for the common good. As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, let us strive to cultivate a form of patriotism that is inclusive, critical, and globally aware.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Paper
• Essay on Overpopulation
• Essay on Overcoming Obstacles

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples

Welcome to our list of patriotism essay ideas! Choose among positive and negative topics on patriotism and make sure to check out our patriotism essay examples.

🔝 Top 10 Patriotism Essay Ideas to Write about

🏆 best patriotism topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting patriotism topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about patriotism, ❓ questions related to patriotism.

• Patriotism and Global Citizenship
• Traditional and Popular Patriotic Songs
• Patriotism, Diversity, and Multiculturalism
• Social Media’s Effect on National Sentiment
• What Happens to Patriotism in Times of Crisis?
• Does Patriotism Foster Civic Engagement?
• The Line Between Patriotism and Nationalism
• The Role of Literature, Music, and Art in Nation-Building
• What’s the Connection Between Patriotism and Identity?
• National Flags and Anthems as Expressions of Patriotism
• Roman Patriotism in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” The gladiator Maximus, and the general in one person, embodies the greatest Roman patriotism, in the name of which he sacrifices his wife and son, loses his liberty and wastes his precious life.
• Patriotism in the Modern World and Its Categories The other category is constructive or critical patriotism which is the belief that the best way to love one’s country is with constructive criticism of the government The constructive or critical patriotism leads me to […]
• Loyalty Imagery in “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima This highlights the theme of loyalty, as the soldiers are ready to obey orders well aware of the dangers involved. The author continues to explore the symbol of compliance and selflessness by explicating how soldiers […]
• Summary of the Movie “Patriot” by Roland Emmerich Therefore, the paper aims to summarize the plot and the characters of the film “Patriot” in the framework of those historical events.
• Patriotism in Music and Songs of America Patriotism can be defined as the attachment to a country and its core attributes, which does not always equal loyalty to the government or a sense of superiority.
• Patriotism in Music of Lee Greenwood, Jean Sibelius, John Legend and Others The speed of the beat that is in this is sometimes slow and, at times, medium. Scale is a pattern of notes that makes the melody in a song familiar.
• The U.S. Patriot Act and Controversy The key components of the USA PATRIOT Act are characterized by a crosscutting reduction in the restrictions imposed on law enforcement entities curtailing their domain of influence in carrying out telephone, e-mail communication, medical and […]
• A Critical Review of Nancy Ward: American Patriot or Cherokee Nationalist The article states that Nancy Ward’s actions come from her understanding of changes that Cherokee had to face, and her will to adapt to the changes rather than commit to American Patriotism or Cherokee nationalism.
• “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima They worship photos of their “Imperial Majesties,” and each offers total allegiance to their respective gods: Shinji to the army, and Reiko to Shinji.
• Blame Them if You Are a True Patriot If a citizen of any country speaks against the policies or actions of the country, especially when the nation is engaged in war, it appears to others as treason because it is assumed that the […]
• “The Patriot” by Roland Emmerich Other aspects of social life, such as the number of children Ben had, the idea that the mother had died at a young age, the presence of black people working as servants and slaves, and […]
• The Problem of Patriotism Analysis Thus, the era of social revolutions in Russian and their attempts in Europe was characterized by a critique of patriotism as it was defined in the liberal tradition.
• Philosophy: Is Patriotism a Virtue? Hence, in the above context, patriotism is the feeling that arises from the concerns of the safety of the people of a nation.
• The Phenomenon of Patriotism in the Context of the U.S. War of Independence It is important to consider the phenomenon of patriotism in the context of the US War of Independence. Exploring the reasons for the victory of the American revolution, which led to the formation of the […]
• “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima Literature Analysis Nevertheless, the use of imagery to underscore the theme of devotion comes out clearly, as the story unfolds. In this case, the education edict comes out as an image, a controversial image for the author […]
• Adolf Hitler: From Patriotism to Racism He was also forced to live and work in the city and it is was the cultural and social shock that he experienced as he transferred from the rural to the urban that changed the […]
• Poems comparing: Country Lovers and What It’s like to be a Black Girl In the poem, What it’s like to be a Black Girl, Smith explores the issue of racism in a jagged society.
• Comparison and Contrasting: Country Lovers and Child of the Americas For instance, the first paragraph gives the picture of the environment or the setting of the story as a farm, which harbors two races blacks and whites.
• Fake Democracy and Patriotism: “Give Me Liberty” by Naomi Wolf It also define the battle plan that the American citizens would use in ensuring that they fight back and regain back the rule of laws defined in the American constitution that enhance the liberty that […]
• Comparison of Ethnicity and Racism in “Country Lovers” and “The Welcome Table” In both cases, the texts have devoted their concerns to the plight of a black female who is deposed off her meaning within the realms of the society.
• The Question of Loyalty and Patriotism Considering the fact that the alien country, is where one lives and has accumulated most of her/his wealth, it becomes reasonable to show loyalty to the country though this action can also result into negatives […]
• Notions of Community and Notions of Self in The Plague and Patriotism Rieux, though a competent doctor and essentially kind hearted, exhibits a slightly annoyed air during the early days of the plague, and as the disease wears on, this annoyance graduates to full blown resentment.”The whole […]
• American Patriotism: Struggle for Independence The children’s’ efforts in the struggle for independence were greatly recognized and appreciated by the government which led to the introduction of classes on patriotism and nationalism.
• Differences Between Nationalism and Patriotism-Which Is Better for Nation Building
• Comparing Patriotism and Volunteerism in the Society
• The American Revolution: Treason or Patriotism
• United States Declaration of Independence and Patriotism
• The Effects of Country of Origin Image and Patriotism on British Consumers’ Preference for Domestic and Imported Beef
• An Analysis of the Patriotism of the Immigrants in the United States
• An Argument Which Argues Whether Children Should Be Taught in Education to Be Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism
• Patriotism Should Be Propagated In Singapore Schools
• Patriotism and the Historical Inaccuracies in The Patriot, a Film by Roland Emmerich
• The Subtle Use of Patriotism in the Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Gandhi’s Views On Patriotism and One’s Love for Their Country
• The European Charter – Between deep Diversity and Constitutional Patriotism
• Patriotism And National Identity : A Symbol Of National Hero
• U.S. Definition of Patriot and Patriotism
• Japanese Culture vs. Chinese Culture: the Loss of Patriotism
• Patriotism: American Identity Defined Through Opportunity, Hard Work, And Loyalty
• Racism, Unprovoked Hatred and Misguided Patriotism in Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
• American Patriotism: The Love for the Country
• The Patriotism Of Despair By Serguei Alex Oushakine
• The Influence of The Miracle on Ice Game in Changing the Public Attitude and Feelings of Patriotism in America
• Preserving the American Idea of Patriotism
• Economic Patriotism, the Clash of Capitalisms, and State Aid in the European Union
• False Patriotism in America
• Patriotism, Cosmopolitanism, Consumer Ethnocentrism and Purchase Behavior
• The Consequences Of Patriotism As Moral Justification
• Comparing Patriotism and Nationalism
• The Representation of Patriotism and Militarism in the Drinking Fountain
• The Different Versions of Our True Patriotism
• Red White and Beer: a Rhetorical Analysis of America’s Retail Patriotism
• The Relation Between Seppuku and Patriotism Within the Japanese Society
• Is American Patriotism Also Blind Patriotism
• The Birthplace of American Patriotism
• Patriotism in United States After September 11th Incident
• The Use of Media to Promote Unity and Patriotism in America
• Is Patriotism a Byproduct of Fascism
• The Idea of Freedom and Patriotism in America
• Wanda Coleman, Colin Kaepernick, and The Refusal to Prioritize Patriotism Over Blackness
• Patriotism, Preferences and Serendipity: Understanding the Adoption of the Defence Transfers Directive
• The Policy Of Economic Nationalism: From Origins To New Variations Of Economic Patriotism
• U.S. Patriotism: A Link to American Hatred. Politics in the Media
• A Deeper Look at Patriotism, Conscience and the Mexican War
• How Does Economic Patriotism Differ from Nationalism?
• What Acts Promote Patriotism?
• How Can a Teacher Show Patriotism in Education?
• What Values Lead to Patriotism?
• Does Patriotism Contribute to the Growth of a Nation?
• What Is the Concept of Economic Patriotism?
• How Are Terrorism, Patriotism, and the Farce of Loyalty Oaths Related to Each Other?
• Why Is Patriotism an Important Value?
• How Do You Demonstrate Patriotism?
• What Is Patriotism in Core Values?
• Should the Canadian Government Coordinate the Organization of Youth Groups That Would Encourage Patriotism?
• Was the American Revolution a Treason or Patriotism?
• How Does Promoting Patriotism Contribute to Economic Prosperity?
• What Are the Positive Effects of Patriotism?
• How Has Patriotism Changed Over the Centuries?
• What Are the Main Types of Patriotism?
• Did the First World War Change the Idea of War and Patriotism?
• What Is the Relationship Between Seppuku and Patriotism in Japanese Society?
• How Does Globalization Affect Patriotism?
• What Is the Difference Between Nationalism and Patriotism, and Which Is Better for Nation Building?
• How Is Patriotism, Bravery, and Freedom Described in the Book “Born on the Fourth of July”?
• What Is Your Idea of Patriotism and Its Importance in Our Lives?
• Should Teachers Emphasize Patriotism and Heroes?
• What Are the Factors Affecting Patriotism?
• How Can the American Idea of Patriotism Be Preserved?
• What Does True Patriotism Mean to You?
• How Important Is Patriotism for Young People?
• What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader That Promote Patriotism?
• Is It Important to Educate Patriotism in Elementary School?
• What Does the Concept of Patriotism Mean to Mishima?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 26). 104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/

"104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 26 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples'. 26 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "104 Patriotism Essay Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/patriotism-essay-examples/.

• Ethnocentrism Topics
• Moral Development Essay Topics
• Volunteerism Paper Topics
• Media Bias Questions
• Conscience Questions
• History Topics
• Cultural Identity Research Topics
• Freedom Topics
• Immigration Titles
• American Dream Research Topics
• Conservatism Essay Titles
• Nationalism Topics
• Fascism Questions
• US History Topics
• Cultural Competence Research Topics

The Chicago Blog

Smart and timely features from our books and authors

What Does Patriotism Mean in America Today?

July 4 th generally conjures images of barbeques, fireworks, and large, billowing flags. But due to large protests against police brutality, concerns of COVID, and an upcoming election that symbolizes both fear and hope for many, the holiday this year looks very different. This Independence Day, instead of a celebration of patriotism, we wanted to dedicate some time to reflecting on it. We invited three of our political science authors to answer the following questions: What does patriotism mean in America today? Given that definition, should Americans be patriotic today? Below are their thoughtful responses.

LaFleur Stephens-Dougan author of Race to the Bottom: How Racial Appeals Work in American Politics

Reflecting on what patriotism means to me so close to the celebration of our nation’s Independence Day is a weighty endeavor.  In my opinion, patriotism in the United States is fraught with contradiction, especially for Black Americans. Black Americans have made countless contributions to the United States, a country they love, but are still engaged in a centuries-old struggle for economic, political, and social equality.  As the child of Black immigrants, who came to this country voluntarily, I am acutely aware of the sacrifices that African Americans have made on behalf on all of us, essentially serving as the nation’s conscience—the keepers of democracy. 

Patriotism means loving one’s country so much that you hold it accountable to the ideals that it proclaims.  You call on patriots to strive to live out stated ideals: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. According to the Declaration of Independence, this trifecta of inalienable rights was given to all humans by their creator, and, government was formed to protect these  rights  for all citizens.  Yet, some 244 years later after that document was penned, Black people are disproportionately dying at the hands of the state, and sometimes at the hands of civilians, who question whether Black people should jog (Ahmaud Arbery), walk home from the store (Trayvon Martin), or ask for help (Renisha McBride).

Of course, the Declaration of Independence was authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, himself a slaveholder.  He surely did not perceive African Americans as beneficiaries of the ideals he had mind.  Still, Black people remain America’s moral conscience.  Even amidst a global pandemic that has disproportionately harmed African Americans, that same community and their allies rightly protest to hold the country accountable to its own stated ideals.  As we reflect on Independence Day 2020, there’s nothing more patriotic than that, in my humble opinion.

Rachel Blum, author of How the Tea Party Captured the GOP: Insurgent Factions in American Politics

The protests following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by their own government have brought two warring visions of American patriotism into sharp relief: patriotism as a characteristic and patriotism as an action. In this first vision patriotism is a characteristic that is possessed by a certain group of people (patriots). These patriots consider themselves to be the only “real” Americans — the only ones deserving of the full rights and protections of citizenship. Here’s the catch: membership in the patriot class is almost exclusively reserved for native-born, English-speaking whites. Conceived in this way, patriotism is just another tool for discriminating between “us” and “them.”  In the second vision, patriotism is an active state of caring for the country you call home and the people in it. Caring for your country is different from blindly loving it, or swearing fealty to its leaders. It bears more resemblance to the way members of a family care for one another: paying attention, taking responsibility for one another’s well-being, having difficult conversations about problematic behaviors, and protecting one another from abuse. The question is not whether Americans today should be patriotic, but which vision of patriotism we will choose.

Benjamin I. Page, coauthor of Democracy in America? What Has Gone Wrong and What We Can Do About It

Patriotism can be thoughtful or shallow; loving or hostile; encompassing or exclusive; uplifting or complacent. It can be subservient or independent. Judging by our public discourse, Americans today may seem to have sunk into the lowest sort of exclusive and xenophobic patriotism. Our ills, from the pandemic to terrorism to poverty, are blamed on “foreign” scapegoats – China, Muslims, Mexican immigrants. The bully pulpit is used to bully. A debased vision of national greatness celebrates racism, nativism, sexism, and go-it-alone nationalism.

But studies of public opinion make clear that this rancid rhetoric from politicians and shouters does not reflect the views of most ordinary Americans. To most, patriotism means inclusive love of family, friends, community, and country – in all their diversity and messiness – without hatred of the “other.” To most, patriotism allows for criticism, seeks progress, and embraces cooperation rather than conflict with the wider world. On this Independence Day it is quite possible to love our country while working to replace officials and abate the noxious noise that bombards us.

All of these books are available on our website or from your favorite bookseller .

Handbook of Patriotism pp 9–28 Cite as

Patriotism: History and Politics of a Keyword

• Mary G. Dietz 2  
• Reference work entry
• First Online: 28 July 2020

678 Accesses

“Patriotism” is a relatively young word in relation to other rhetorical terms of western political discourse; but its cognate “patriot” and that word’s etymological root in appeals to “patria” have antiquarian beginnings. Considering the various historical manifestations of the term, the purposes of this essay are threefold. The first aims briefly to track the appearance of the term “patriot” through uses and appeals to its etymological root “patria” in classical, medieval, and early modern political thought. The second endeavors to examine the fortunes and “reversibility” of the term within Anglo-American partisan political rhetorics of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries with particular attention to Whig and Tory discourses in England, the American revolutionary period of “patriots” and “loyalists,” and the brief efflorescence of radical egalitarian patriot rhetoric among the English Chartists, soon to be swallowed up by discourses of nationalism linked to the imperialist programs of the British nation-state. Finally, from a perspective between past and future, the chapter concludes with some observations about “patriotism” that underscore its existence not as a philosophical concept but as a rhetorical term of discourse persistently embedded in politics and the relations of power. Understanding even a brief history of the term may therefore bear significantly upon the capacities that contemporary citizens possesses for being able to distinguish between appeals to “patriot acts” that threaten to destroy rather than vitalize political freedom, individual rights, and the social equality of the body politic.

Parts of this newly revised and extended chapter were originally published under the title, “Patriotism,” in Political innovation and conceptual change, edited by Terence Ball, James Farr, and Russell L. Hanson (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989), pp 177–193. Copyright © 1989 Cambridge University Press.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution .

Buying options

• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Durable hardcover edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Arendt H (1958) The human condition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

Google Scholar  

Arendt H (2009) The origins of totalitarianism. Benediction Classics, New York

Aristotle (1958) In: Barker E (ed) Politics. Oxford University Press, Oxford

Armitage D (1997) “A patriot for whom?” The afterlives of Bolingbroke’s Patriot King. J Br Stud 36:397–418

Article   Google Scholar  

Augustine of Hippo, St. (1960) In: Ryan J (ed) Confessions. Doubleday, New York

Berkeley BG [1750] 1953 Maxims concerning patriotism. In: Luce AA, Jessop JE (eds) The works of George Berkeley, vol. 6. T. Nelson and Sons, London, p 251–255

Bolingbroke, Viscount Henry St. John [1736] 1917a Letters on the spirit of patriotism. Clarendon, Oxford

Bolingbroke, Viscount Henry St. John [1738] 1917b The idea of a patriot king. Jackman S (ed). Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis/New York

Bourne R (1977) The radical will-selected writings. 1911–1918. Hansen 0 (ed). Urizen Books, New York

Burkey M, Zamalin A (2016) Patriotism, Black Politics and Racial Justice in America. New Polit Sci 38:371–389

Chalmers J (1776) Plain truth: addressed to the inhabitants of America containing, remarks, on a late pamphlet, entitled common sense. http://www.umbc.edu/che/tahlessons/pdf/historylabs/Should_the_Colo_student:RS07.pdf

Connolly J (2007) The state of speech: rhetoric and political thought in ancient Rome. Princeton University Press, Princeton

Cunningham H (1982) Will the real John Bull stand up, please? Times Literary Supplement (February 19).

Davidson P (1941) Propaganda and the American revolution 1765–1785. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill

Dobrée B (1978) The theme of patriotism in the poetry of the early eighteenth century. Proc Br Acad 25:49–65

Dunn J (1979) Western political theory in the face of the future. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Finley MI (1984) Politics in the ancient world. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Foner E (1976) Tom Paine and revolutionary America. Oxford University Press, Oxford

Gellner E (1983) Nations and nationalism. Cornell University Press, Ithaca

Gilbert A (2012) Black patriots and loyalists: fighting for emancipation in the war for independence. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

Book   Google Scholar  

Hobson JA (1902/2005) Imperialism: a study. Cosimo, New York

Ip G (2017) We are not the world. The Wall Street Journal (January 6)

Kantorowicz E (1951) Pro Patria Mori in medieval political thought. Am Hist Rev 56:472–492

Kantorowicz E (1957) The king’s two bodies: a study in medieval political theory. Princeton University Press, Princeton

Karsten P (1978) Patriot-heroes in England and America. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison

Kemp B (1966) Patriotism, pledges, and the people. In: Gilbert M (ed) A century of conflict. Hamish Hamilton, London, pp 37–46

Koht T (1946–47) The dawn of nationalism in Europe. Am Hist Rev 52:265–280

Machiavelli N (1961) In: Gilbert A (ed) The letters of Machiavelli. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

Merleau-Ponty M (1964) A note on Machiavelli. In: Signs (studies in phenomenology and existential philosophy). Northwestern University Press, Evanston

Miller D (ed) (1987) The Blackwell encyclopedia of political thought. Blackwell, Oxford

Nell WC (1855) The colored patriots of the American revolution. Robert F Walcut, Boston

Nunberg G (2003) The nation: the last refuge of scoundrels and a noble virtue. The New York Times. Online: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/13/weekinreview/the-nation-the-last-refuge-of-scoundrels-and-a-noble-virtue.html

Over KL (2005) Kingship, conquest, and patria. Routledge, New York

Oxford English Dictionary (1971) Oxford University Press, Oxford

Polanyi K (1944) The great transformation. Beacon Press, Boston

Post G (1953) Two notes on nationalism in the middle ages. Traditio:281–320

Schaar J (1981) Legitimacy in the modern state. Transaction Press, Brunswick

Shaffer J (2007) Performing patriotism: national identity in the colonial and revolutionary American theater. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia

Skinner Q (1974) The principles and practice of opposition: The case of Bolingbroke versus Walpole. In: McKendrick N (ed) Historical perspectives: Studies in English thought and society in honour of J. H. Plumb. Europa Publications, London, pp 93–128

Skinner Q (1980) Language and social change. In: Michaels L, Ricks C (eds) The state of the language. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 562–578

Wang C (2017) Trump declares national day of patriotic devotion … but you already missed it.” US News (January 23)

Washington G (1796) Farewell address. In: The Avalon project. Yale Law School, New Haven. Online: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp

Weil S (1952) The need for roots. Beacon Press, Boston

Williams R (1983) Keywords: a vocabulary of culture and society. revised and expanded edition. Fontana, London

Wolin S (1960) Politics and vision. Little, Brown, Boston

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Evanston, USA

Mary G. Dietz

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary G. Dietz .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

Educational Research Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Mitja Sardoč

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Cite this entry.

Dietz, M.G. (2020). Patriotism: History and Politics of a Keyword. In: Sardoč, M. (eds) Handbook of Patriotism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54484-7_10

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54484-7_10

Published : 28 July 2020

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-319-54483-0

Online ISBN : 978-3-319-54484-7

eBook Packages : Religion and Philosophy Reference Module Humanities and Social Sciences Reference Module Humanities

Share this entry

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of patriotism

• nationalism

Examples of patriotism in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patriotism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1716, in the meaning defined above

Articles Related to patriotism

The Good, The Bad, & The...

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/5/19

Some of the words that defined the week of July 5, 2019

The Difference Between 'Patriotism' and...

The Difference Between 'Patriotism' and 'Nationalism'

Although treated as synonyms, there is a distinction. But it's more complicated than "'patriotism' good; 'nationalism' bad."

The Top 8 Political Buzzwords of 2016

From 'filibuster' to 'speechwriter'

Dictionary Entries Near patriotism

Patriots' Day

Cite this Entry

“Patriotism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism. Accessed 12 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of patriotism, more from merriam-webster on patriotism.

Nglish: Translation of patriotism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of patriotism for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about patriotism

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, more commonly mispronounced words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 12, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), 8 uncommon words related to love, 9 superb owl words, games & quizzes.

• CBSE Class 10th
• CBSE Class 12th
• UP Board 10th
• UP Board 12th
• Bihar Board 10th
• Bihar Board 12th
• Top Schools in India
• Top Schools in Delhi
• Top Schools in Mumbai
• Top Schools in Chennai
• Top Schools in Hyderabad
• Top Schools in Kolkata
• Top Schools in Pune
• Top Schools in Bangalore

Products & Resources

• JEE Main Knockout April
• Free Sample Papers
• Free Ebooks
• NCERT Notes
• NCERT Syllabus
• NCERT Books
• RD Sharma Solutions
• Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2024-25
• NCERT Solutions
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12
• NCERT Solutions for Class 11
• NCERT solutions for Class 10
• NCERT solutions for Class 9
• NCERT solutions for Class 8
• NCERT Solutions for Class 7
• JEE Main 2024
• JEE Advanced 2024
• BITSAT 2024
• View All Engineering Exams
• Colleges Accepting B.Tech Applications
• Top Engineering Colleges in India
• Engineering Colleges in India
• Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
• Engineering Colleges Accepting JEE Main
• Top IITs in India
• Top NITs in India
• Top IIITs in India
• JEE Main College Predictor
• JEE Main Rank Predictor
• MHT CET College Predictor
• AP EAMCET College Predictor
• GATE College Predictor
• KCET College Predictor
• JEE Advanced College Predictor
• View All College Predictors
• JEE Main Question Paper
• JEE Main Mock Test
• JEE Main Registration
• JEE Main Syllabus
• Download E-Books and Sample Papers
• Compare Colleges
• B.Tech College Applications
• GATE 2024 Result
• MAH MBA CET Exam
• View All Management Exams

Colleges & Courses

• MBA College Admissions
• MBA Colleges in India
• Top IIMs Colleges in India
• Top Online MBA Colleges in India
• MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Score
• BBA Colleges in India
• XAT College Predictor 2024
• SNAP College Predictor
• NMAT College Predictor
• MAT College Predictor 2024
• CMAT College Predictor 2024
• CAT Percentile Predictor 2023
• CAT 2023 College Predictor
• CMAT 2024 Registration
• TS ICET 2024 Registration
• CMAT Exam Date 2024
• MAH MBA CET Cutoff 2024
• Download Helpful Ebooks
• List of Popular Branches
• QnA - Get answers to your doubts
• IIM Fees Structure
• AIIMS Nursing
• Top Medical Colleges in India
• Top Medical Colleges in India accepting NEET Score
• Medical Colleges accepting NEET
• List of Medical Colleges in India
• List of AIIMS Colleges In India
• Medical Colleges in Maharashtra
• Medical Colleges in India Accepting NEET PG
• NEET College Predictor
• NEET PG College Predictor
• NEET MDS College Predictor
• DNB CET College Predictor
• DNB PDCET College Predictor
• NEET Application Form 2024
• NEET PG Application Form 2024
• NEET Cut off
• NEET Online Preparation
• Download Helpful E-books
• LSAT India 2024
• Colleges Accepting Admissions
• Top Law Colleges in India
• Law College Accepting CLAT Score
• List of Law Colleges in India
• Top Law Colleges in Delhi
• Top Law Collages in Indore
• Top Law Colleges in Chandigarh
• Top Law Collages in Lucknow

Predictors & E-Books

• CLAT College Predictor
• MHCET Law ( 5 Year L.L.B) College Predictor
• AILET College Predictor
• Sample Papers
• Compare Law Collages
• Careers360 Youtube Channel
• CLAT Syllabus 2025
• CLAT Previous Year Question Paper
• AIBE 18 Result 2023
• NID DAT Exam
• Pearl Academy Exam

Animation Courses

• Animation Courses in India
• Animation Courses in Bangalore
• Animation Courses in Mumbai
• Animation Courses in Pune
• Animation Courses in Chennai
• Animation Courses in Hyderabad
• Design Colleges in India
• Fashion Design Colleges in Bangalore
• Fashion Design Colleges in Mumbai
• Fashion Design Colleges in Pune
• Fashion Design Colleges in Delhi
• Fashion Design Colleges in Hyderabad
• Fashion Design Colleges in India
• Top Design Colleges in India
• Free Design E-books
• List of Branches
• Careers360 Youtube channel
• NIFT College Predictor
• UCEED College Predictor
• NID DAT College Predictor
• IPU CET BJMC
• JMI Mass Communication Entrance Exam
• IIMC Entrance Exam
• Media & Journalism colleges in Delhi
• Media & Journalism colleges in Bangalore
• Media & Journalism colleges in Mumbai
• List of Media & Journalism Colleges in India
• CA Intermediate
• CA Foundation
• CS Executive
• CS Professional
• Difference between CA and CS
• Difference between CA and CMA
• CA Full form
• CMA Full form
• CS Full form
• CA Salary In India

Top Courses & Careers

• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
• Master of Commerce (M.Com)
• Company Secretary
• Cost Accountant
• Charted Accountant
• Credit Manager
• Financial Advisor
• Top Commerce Colleges in India
• Top Government Commerce Colleges in India
• Top Private Commerce Colleges in India
• Top M.Com Colleges in Mumbai
• Top B.Com Colleges in India
• IT Colleges in Tamil Nadu
• IT Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
• MCA Colleges in India
• BCA Colleges in India

Quick Links

• Information Technology Courses
• Programming Courses
• Web Development Courses
• Data Analytics Courses
• Big Data Analytics Courses
• RUHS Pharmacy Admission Test
• Top Pharmacy Colleges in India
• Pharmacy Colleges in Pune
• Pharmacy Colleges in Mumbai
• Colleges Accepting GPAT Score
• Pharmacy Colleges in Lucknow
• List of Pharmacy Colleges in Nagpur
• GPAT Result
• GPAT 2024 Admit Card
• GPAT Question Papers
• NCHMCT JEE 2024
• Mah BHMCT CET
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Delhi
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Hyderabad
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Mumbai
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Tamil Nadu
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Maharashtra
• B.Sc Hotel Management
• Hotel Management
• Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering Technology

Diploma Colleges

• Top Diploma Colleges in Maharashtra
• UPSC IAS 2024
• SSC CGL 2024
• IBPS RRB 2024
• Previous Year Sample Papers
• Free Competition E-books
• Sarkari Result
• QnA- Get your doubts answered
• UPSC Previous Year Sample Papers
• CTET Previous Year Sample Papers
• SBI Clerk Previous Year Sample Papers
• NDA Previous Year Sample Papers

Upcoming Events

• NDA Application Form 2024
• UPSC IAS Application Form 2024
• CDS Application Form 2024
• CTET Admit card 2024
• HP TET Result 2023
• SSC GD Constable Admit Card 2024
• UPTET Notification 2024
• SBI Clerk Result 2024

Other Exams

• SSC CHSL 2024
• UP PCS 2024
• UGC NET 2024
• RRB NTPC 2024
• IBPS PO 2024
• IBPS Clerk 2024
• IBPS SO 2024
• Top University in USA
• Top University in Canada
• Top University in Ireland
• Top Universities in UK
• Top Universities in Australia
• Best MBA Colleges in Abroad
• Business Management Studies Colleges

Top Countries

• Study in USA
• Study in UK
• Study in Canada
• Study in Australia
• Study in Ireland
• Study in Germany
• Study in China
• Study in Europe

Student Visas

• Student Visa Canada
• Student Visa UK
• Student Visa USA
• Student Visa Australia
• Student Visa Germany
• Student Visa New Zealand
• Student Visa Ireland
• CUET PG 2024
• IGNOU B.Ed Admission 2024
• DU Admission
• UP B.Ed JEE 2024
• DDU Entrance Exam
• IIT JAM 2024
• IGNOU Online Admission 2024
• Universities in India
• Top Universities in India 2024
• Top Colleges in India
• Top Universities in Uttar Pradesh 2024
• Top Universities in Bihar
• Top Universities in Madhya Pradesh 2024
• Top Universities in Tamil Nadu 2024
• Central Universities in India
• CUET PG Admit Card 2024
• IGNOU Date Sheet
• CUET Mock Test 2024
• CUET Application Form 2024
• CUET PG Syllabus 2024
• CUET Participating Universities 2024
• CUET Previous Year Question Paper
• CUET Syllabus 2024 for Science Students
• E-Books and Sample Papers
• CUET Exam Pattern 2024
• CUET Exam Date 2024
• CUET Syllabus 2024
• IGNOU Exam Form 2024
• IGNOU Result
• CUET PG Courses 2024

Engineering Preparation

• Knockout JEE Main 2024
• Test Series JEE Main 2024
• JEE Main 2024 Rank Booster

Medical Preparation

• Knockout NEET 2024
• Test Series NEET 2024
• Rank Booster NEET 2024

Online Courses

• JEE Main One Month Course
• NEET One Month Course
• IBSAT Free Mock Tests
• IIT JEE Foundation Course
• Knockout BITSAT 2024
• Career Guidance Tool

Top Streams

• IT & Software Certification Courses
• Engineering and Architecture Certification Courses
• Programming And Development Certification Courses
• Business and Management Certification Courses
• Marketing Certification Courses
• Health and Fitness Certification Courses
• Design Certification Courses

Specializations

• Digital Marketing Certification Courses
• Cyber Security Certification Courses
• Artificial Intelligence Certification Courses
• Business Analytics Certification Courses
• Data Science Certification Courses
• Cloud Computing Certification Courses
• Machine Learning Certification Courses
• View All Certification Courses
• UG Degree Courses
• PG Degree Courses
• Short Term Courses
• Free Courses
• Online Degrees and Diplomas
• Compare Courses

Top Providers

• Coursera Courses
• Udemy Courses
• Edx Courses
• Swayam Courses
• upGrad Courses
• Simplilearn Courses
• Great Learning Courses

Access premium articles, webinars, resources to make the best decisions for career, course, exams, scholarships, study abroad and much more with

Plan, Prepare & Make the Best Career Choices

Patriotism Essay - 100, 200, 500 Words

Essay on patriotism -.

Patriotism can be defined as the attachment and commitment that one feels towards their` country or nation. Being a "good citizen" in the traditional sense means to have a sense of patriotism, sometimes known as "being patriotic". Those who love their country and desire to defend it against enemies are called patriots. Patriotism is one’s desire to show respect and love for their country and fellow citizens.

100 Words Essay On Patriotism

“Citizenship consists in the service of the country.”- Jawaharlal Nehru .

The term "patriotism" refers to loyalty and respect for one's country . Patriotism signifies a devotion to a specific political community but not necessarily to its current system of government. Patriotism can be defined in several ways, emphasising different aspects of the concept.

Scholars have proposed various definitions of patriotism. One such definition holds that patriotism strengthens national bonds and fosters national loyalty when people of the country share a common belief in their country's superiority and show affection for national symbols. Scholars have agreed on patriotism in support of nationalism based on superiority and foreign sovereignty.

200 Words Essay On Patriotism

The slogan given by Subhash Chandra Bose - "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom", shows their patriotism and determination towards the country.

Patriotism has a protective nature, both aggressive and cultural . Patriotism is proof that a country is united in pursuing a common goal. Patriotism is a term that has no intention of putting pressure on other people, and it defines a place that is the best in the world and has the best lifestyle and people's boundaries toward this idea. Social psychologists emphasise the primary characteristics of patriotism as loyalty, love, and desire to belong to a country. Patriotism is not the same for everyone; it is not just to sacrifice one’s life; one can even show patriotism by giving selfless services to the country.

Finally, patriotism may be viewed as a social construct that emerges gradually because of an individual's cultural engagement. It is usual for individuals to express their love and compassion for places they adore, just as it is natural for children to express their love for their parents and the organisations in which they engage. However, throughout the process of developing nations, individuals felt that they were members of society far more significant than themselves.

500 Words Essay On Patriotism

“Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.” - George Bernard Shaw .

The concepts of "loyalty," "commitment," and "dedication" are essential to the concept of "patriotism." In its most condensed form, patriotism is a person's passion for their country or nation and is one of the oldest political virtues. Its appeal is more emotional than analytical and requires accepting responsibility for the political system or state. Patriotism is based on an often-unspoken idea, the political equivalent of the saying "blood is thicker than water," reminding individuals that they should prioritise their family over all others.

How Is Patriotism Expressed

Patriotism can be expressed using the terms "love for country", and nationalism, also known as "loyalty to one's nation," are sometimes used interchangeably. Nationalism, sometimes mistaken for patriotism, refers to a distinct phenomenon: the actual or aspirational merger of a shared ethnicity and state sovereignty. Real patriots (our freedom fighters) showed the true meaning of patriotism by sacrificing their own lives for the sake of our country. The freedom we enjoy in terms of economic, social, political and cultural aspects is due to them only.

Patriots | Patriotism was extreme in India at the time of British reign. Some of the greatest patriots are Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and much more, who contributed the utmost for the freedom of our country.

Nationalism and Patriotism

Nationalism and patriotism are two expressions that demonstrate an individual's connection to their country. People tend to believe that they mean the same thing but that there is a significant difference between nationalism and patriotism. While nationalism emphasises the inheritance of language and cultural unity, patriotism emphasises values and beliefs and aims to achieve love for the country and nation.

Patriotism comes from a country's freedom, justice, and equality principles. A patriot believes that the country's government and people are decent and strive for a better life. Nationalists believe that their country is superior to the others. This also implies distrust or disapproval of other nations, implying that they are competitors. Nationalists often demand worldwide dominance, whereas patriots do not.

Examples Of Patriotism

Patriotism can be seen by standing for the national anthem and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The most common way to show patriotism is to help in nation-building and economic growth. However, there are other ways of representing patriotism.

Voting in elections

Proudly displaying your country's achievements

·Paying taxes and obeying all laws

Celebrating national holidays

Buying local items

Volunteering

Pros And Cons Of Patriotism

Few nations survive and thrive without some level of patriotism among their citizens. People come together to overcome obstacles because they have a love of the nation and a sense of shared pride. The possible drawback of patriotism is that if it turns into a political doctrine, it may cause individuals to turn against one another and even cause the nation to abandon its core principles.

Explore Career Options (By Industry)

• Construction
• Entertainment
• Manufacturing
• Information Technology

Data Administrator

Database professionals use software to store and organise data such as financial information, and customer shipping records. Individuals who opt for a career as data administrators ensure that data is available for users and secured from unauthorised sales. DB administrators may work in various types of industries. It may involve computer systems design, service firms, insurance companies, banks and hospitals.

Bio Medical Engineer

The field of biomedical engineering opens up a universe of expert chances. An Individual in the biomedical engineering career path work in the field of engineering as well as medicine, in order to find out solutions to common problems of the two fields. The biomedical engineering job opportunities are to collaborate with doctors and researchers to develop medical systems, equipment, or devices that can solve clinical problems. Here we will be discussing jobs after biomedical engineering, how to get a job in biomedical engineering, biomedical engineering scope, and salary. 

Ethical Hacker

A career as ethical hacker involves various challenges and provides lucrative opportunities in the digital era where every giant business and startup owns its cyberspace on the world wide web. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path try to find the vulnerabilities in the cyber system to get its authority. If he or she succeeds in it then he or she gets its illegal authority. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path then steal information or delete the file that could affect the business, functioning, or services of the organization.

GIS officer work on various GIS software to conduct a study and gather spatial and non-spatial information. GIS experts update the GIS data and maintain it. The databases include aerial or satellite imagery, latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, and manually digitized images of maps. In a career as GIS expert, one is responsible for creating online and mobile maps.

Data Analyst

The invention of the database has given fresh breath to the people involved in the data analytics career path. Analysis refers to splitting up a whole into its individual components for individual analysis. Data analysis is a method through which raw data are processed and transformed into information that would be beneficial for user strategic thinking.

Data are collected and examined to respond to questions, evaluate hypotheses or contradict theories. It is a tool for analyzing, transforming, modeling, and arranging data with useful knowledge, to assist in decision-making and methods, encompassing various strategies, and is used in different fields of business, research, and social science.

Geothermal Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as geothermal engineers are the professionals involved in the processing of geothermal energy. The responsibilities of geothermal engineers may vary depending on the workplace location. Those who work in fields design facilities to process and distribute geothermal energy. They oversee the functioning of machinery used in the field.

Database Architect

If you are intrigued by the programming world and are interested in developing communications networks then a career as database architect may be a good option for you. Data architect roles and responsibilities include building design models for data communication networks. Wide Area Networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), and intranets are included in the database networks. It is expected that database architects will have in-depth knowledge of a company's business to develop a network to fulfil the requirements of the organisation. Stay tuned as we look at the larger picture and give you more information on what is db architecture, why you should pursue database architecture, what to expect from such a degree and what your job opportunities will be after graduation. Here, we will be discussing how to become a data architect. Students can visit NIT Trichy , IIT Kharagpur , JMI New Delhi . 

Remote Sensing Technician

Individuals who opt for a career as a remote sensing technician possess unique personalities. Remote sensing analysts seem to be rational human beings, they are strong, independent, persistent, sincere, realistic and resourceful. Some of them are analytical as well, which means they are intelligent, introspective and inquisitive. 

Remote sensing scientists use remote sensing technology to support scientists in fields such as community planning, flight planning or the management of natural resources. Analysing data collected from aircraft, satellites or ground-based platforms using statistical analysis software, image analysis software or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a significant part of their work. Do you want to learn how to become remote sensing technician? There's no need to be concerned; we've devised a simple remote sensing technician career path for you. Scroll through the pages and read.

Budget Analyst

Budget analysis, in a nutshell, entails thoroughly analyzing the details of a financial budget. The budget analysis aims to better understand and manage revenue. Budget analysts assist in the achievement of financial targets, the preservation of profitability, and the pursuit of long-term growth for a business. Budget analysts generally have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field. Knowledge of Financial Management is of prime importance in this career.

Underwriter

An underwriter is a person who assesses and evaluates the risk of insurance in his or her field like mortgage, loan, health policy, investment, and so on and so forth. The underwriter career path does involve risks as analysing the risks means finding out if there is a way for the insurance underwriter jobs to recover the money from its clients. If the risk turns out to be too much for the company then in the future it is an underwriter who will be held accountable for it. Therefore, one must carry out his or her job with a lot of attention and diligence.

Finance Executive

Product manager.

A Product Manager is a professional responsible for product planning and marketing. He or she manages the product throughout the Product Life Cycle, gathering and prioritising the product. A product manager job description includes defining the product vision and working closely with team members of other departments to deliver winning products.  

Operations Manager

Individuals in the operations manager jobs are responsible for ensuring the efficiency of each department to acquire its optimal goal. They plan the use of resources and distribution of materials. The operations manager's job description includes managing budgets, negotiating contracts, and performing administrative tasks.

Stock Analyst

Individuals who opt for a career as a stock analyst examine the company's investments makes decisions and keep track of financial securities. The nature of such investments will differ from one business to the next. Individuals in the stock analyst career use data mining to forecast a company's profits and revenues, advise clients on whether to buy or sell, participate in seminars, and discussing financial matters with executives and evaluate annual reports.

A Researcher is a professional who is responsible for collecting data and information by reviewing the literature and conducting experiments and surveys. He or she uses various methodological processes to provide accurate data and information that is utilised by academicians and other industry professionals. Here, we will discuss what is a researcher, the researcher's salary, types of researchers.

Welding Engineer

Welding Engineer Job Description: A Welding Engineer work involves managing welding projects and supervising welding teams. He or she is responsible for reviewing welding procedures, processes and documentation. A career as Welding Engineer involves conducting failure analyses and causes on welding issues. 

Transportation Planner

A career as Transportation Planner requires technical application of science and technology in engineering, particularly the concepts, equipment and technologies involved in the production of products and services. In fields like land use, infrastructure review, ecological standards and street design, he or she considers issues of health, environment and performance. A Transportation Planner assigns resources for implementing and designing programmes. He or she is responsible for assessing needs, preparing plans and forecasts and compliance with regulations.

Environmental Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as an environmental engineer are construction professionals who utilise the skills and knowledge of biology, soil science, chemistry and the concept of engineering to design and develop projects that serve as solutions to various environmental problems. 

Safety Manager

A Safety Manager is a professional responsible for employee’s safety at work. He or she plans, implements and oversees the company’s employee safety. A Safety Manager ensures compliance and adherence to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines.

Conservation Architect

A Conservation Architect is a professional responsible for conserving and restoring buildings or monuments having a historic value. He or she applies techniques to document and stabilise the object’s state without any further damage. A Conservation Architect restores the monuments and heritage buildings to bring them back to their original state.

Structural Engineer

A Structural Engineer designs buildings, bridges, and other related structures. He or she analyzes the structures and makes sure the structures are strong enough to be used by the people. A career as a Structural Engineer requires working in the construction process. It comes under the civil engineering discipline. A Structure Engineer creates structural models with the help of computer-aided design software. 

Highway Engineer

Highway Engineer Job Description:  A Highway Engineer is a civil engineer who specialises in planning and building thousands of miles of roads that support connectivity and allow transportation across the country. He or she ensures that traffic management schemes are effectively planned concerning economic sustainability and successful implementation.

Field Surveyor

Are you searching for a Field Surveyor Job Description? A Field Surveyor is a professional responsible for conducting field surveys for various places or geographical conditions. He or she collects the required data and information as per the instructions given by senior officials. 

Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and Prosthetists are professionals who provide aid to patients with disabilities. They fix them to artificial limbs (prosthetics) and help them to regain stability. There are times when people lose their limbs in an accident. In some other occasions, they are born without a limb or orthopaedic impairment. Orthotists and prosthetists play a crucial role in their lives with fixing them to assistive devices and provide mobility.

Pathologist

A career in pathology in India is filled with several responsibilities as it is a medical branch and affects human lives. The demand for pathologists has been increasing over the past few years as people are getting more aware of different diseases. Not only that, but an increase in population and lifestyle changes have also contributed to the increase in a pathologist’s demand. The pathology careers provide an extremely huge number of opportunities and if you want to be a part of the medical field you can consider being a pathologist. If you want to know more about a career in pathology in India then continue reading this article.

Veterinary Doctor

Speech therapist, gynaecologist.

Gynaecology can be defined as the study of the female body. The job outlook for gynaecology is excellent since there is evergreen demand for one because of their responsibility of dealing with not only women’s health but also fertility and pregnancy issues. Although most women prefer to have a women obstetrician gynaecologist as their doctor, men also explore a career as a gynaecologist and there are ample amounts of male doctors in the field who are gynaecologists and aid women during delivery and childbirth. 

Audiologist

The audiologist career involves audiology professionals who are responsible to treat hearing loss and proactively preventing the relevant damage. Individuals who opt for a career as an audiologist use various testing strategies with the aim to determine if someone has a normal sensitivity to sounds or not. After the identification of hearing loss, a hearing doctor is required to determine which sections of the hearing are affected, to what extent they are affected, and where the wound causing the hearing loss is found. As soon as the hearing loss is identified, the patients are provided with recommendations for interventions and rehabilitation such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and appropriate medical referrals. While audiology is a branch of science that studies and researches hearing, balance, and related disorders.

An oncologist is a specialised doctor responsible for providing medical care to patients diagnosed with cancer. He or she uses several therapies to control the cancer and its effect on the human body such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biopsy. An oncologist designs a treatment plan based on a pathology report after diagnosing the type of cancer and where it is spreading inside the body.

Are you searching for an ‘Anatomist job description’? An Anatomist is a research professional who applies the laws of biological science to determine the ability of bodies of various living organisms including animals and humans to regenerate the damaged or destroyed organs. If you want to know what does an anatomist do, then read the entire article, where we will answer all your questions.

For an individual who opts for a career as an actor, the primary responsibility is to completely speak to the character he or she is playing and to persuade the crowd that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation. Here in this article, we will discuss how to become an actor in India, actor exams, actor salary in India, and actor jobs. 

Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats create and direct original routines for themselves, in addition to developing interpretations of existing routines. The work of circus acrobats can be seen in a variety of performance settings, including circus, reality shows, sports events like the Olympics, movies and commercials. Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats must be prepared to face rejections and intermittent periods of work. The creativity of acrobats may extend to other aspects of the performance. For example, acrobats in the circus may work with gym trainers, celebrities or collaborate with other professionals to enhance such performance elements as costume and or maybe at the teaching end of the career.

Video Game Designer

Career as a video game designer is filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. A video game designer is someone who is involved in the process of creating a game from day one. He or she is responsible for fulfilling duties like designing the character of the game, the several levels involved, plot, art and similar other elements. Individuals who opt for a career as a video game designer may also write the codes for the game using different programming languages.

Depending on the video game designer job description and experience they may also have to lead a team and do the early testing of the game in order to suggest changes and find loopholes.

Radio Jockey

Radio Jockey is an exciting, promising career and a great challenge for music lovers. If you are really interested in a career as radio jockey, then it is very important for an RJ to have an automatic, fun, and friendly personality. If you want to get a job done in this field, a strong command of the language and a good voice are always good things. Apart from this, in order to be a good radio jockey, you will also listen to good radio jockeys so that you can understand their style and later make your own by practicing.

A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

Choreographer

The word “choreography" actually comes from Greek words that mean “dance writing." Individuals who opt for a career as a choreographer create and direct original dances, in addition to developing interpretations of existing dances. A Choreographer dances and utilises his or her creativity in other aspects of dance performance. For example, he or she may work with the music director to select music or collaborate with other famous choreographers to enhance such performance elements as lighting, costume and set design.

Social Media Manager

A career as social media manager involves implementing the company’s or brand’s marketing plan across all social media channels. Social media managers help in building or improving a brand’s or a company’s website traffic, build brand awareness, create and implement marketing and brand strategy. Social media managers are key to important social communication as well.

Photographer

Photography is considered both a science and an art, an artistic means of expression in which the camera replaces the pen. In a career as a photographer, an individual is hired to capture the moments of public and private events, such as press conferences or weddings, or may also work inside a studio, where people go to get their picture clicked. Photography is divided into many streams each generating numerous career opportunities in photography. With the boom in advertising, media, and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option for many Indian youths.

An individual who is pursuing a career as a producer is responsible for managing the business aspects of production. They are involved in each aspect of production from its inception to deception. Famous movie producers review the script, recommend changes and visualise the story. 

They are responsible for overseeing the finance involved in the project and distributing the film for broadcasting on various platforms. A career as a producer is quite fulfilling as well as exhaustive in terms of playing different roles in order for a production to be successful. Famous movie producers are responsible for hiring creative and technical personnel on contract basis.

Copy Writer

In a career as a copywriter, one has to consult with the client and understand the brief well. A career as a copywriter has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. Several new mediums of advertising are opening therefore making it a lucrative career choice. Students can pursue various copywriter courses such as Journalism , Advertising , Marketing Management . Here, we have discussed how to become a freelance copywriter, copywriter career path, how to become a copywriter in India, and copywriting career outlook. 

In a career as a vlogger, one generally works for himself or herself. However, once an individual has gained viewership there are several brands and companies that approach them for paid collaboration. It is one of those fields where an individual can earn well while following his or her passion. 

Ever since internet costs got reduced the viewership for these types of content has increased on a large scale. Therefore, a career as a vlogger has a lot to offer. If you want to know more about the Vlogger eligibility, roles and responsibilities then continue reading the article. 

For publishing books, newspapers, magazines and digital material, editorial and commercial strategies are set by publishers. Individuals in publishing career paths make choices about the markets their businesses will reach and the type of content that their audience will be served. Individuals in book publisher careers collaborate with editorial staff, designers, authors, and freelance contributors who develop and manage the creation of content.

Careers in journalism are filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. One cannot afford to miss out on the details. As it is the small details that provide insights into a story. Depending on those insights a journalist goes about writing a news article. A journalism career can be stressful at times but if you are someone who is passionate about it then it is the right choice for you. If you want to know more about the media field and journalist career then continue reading this article.

Individuals in the editor career path is an unsung hero of the news industry who polishes the language of the news stories provided by stringers, reporters, copywriters and content writers and also news agencies. Individuals who opt for a career as an editor make it more persuasive, concise and clear for readers. In this article, we will discuss the details of the editor's career path such as how to become an editor in India, editor salary in India and editor skills and qualities.

Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter may often be at work on national holidays and festivities. He or she pitches various story ideas and covers news stories in risky situations. Students can pursue a BMC (Bachelor of Mass Communication) , B.M.M. (Bachelor of Mass Media) , or  MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication) to become a reporter. While we sit at home reporters travel to locations to collect information that carries a news value.  

Corporate Executive

Are you searching for a Corporate Executive job description? A Corporate Executive role comes with administrative duties. He or she provides support to the leadership of the organisation. A Corporate Executive fulfils the business purpose and ensures its financial stability. In this article, we are going to discuss how to become corporate executive.

Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist is a media professional who creates, audio, videos, graphic image files, computer animations for multimedia applications. He or she is responsible for planning, producing, and maintaining websites and applications. 

Quality Controller

A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product. 

A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

Production Manager

A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans. 

Process Development Engineer

The Process Development Engineers design, implement, manufacture, mine, and other production systems using technical knowledge and expertise in the industry. They use computer modeling software to test technologies and machinery. An individual who is opting career as Process Development Engineer is responsible for developing cost-effective and efficient processes. They also monitor the production process and ensure it functions smoothly and efficiently.

AWS Solution Architect

An AWS Solution Architect is someone who specializes in developing and implementing cloud computing systems. He or she has a good understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing and can confidently deploy and manage their systems. He or she troubleshoots the issues and evaluates the risk from the third party. 

Azure Administrator

An Azure Administrator is a professional responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure Solutions. He or she manages cloud infrastructure service instances and various cloud servers as well as sets up public and private cloud systems. 

Computer Programmer

Careers in computer programming primarily refer to the systematic act of writing code and moreover include wider computer science areas. The word 'programmer' or 'coder' has entered into practice with the growing number of newly self-taught tech enthusiasts. Computer programming careers involve the use of designs created by software developers and engineers and transforming them into commands that can be implemented by computers. These commands result in regular usage of social media sites, word-processing applications and browsers.

Information Security Manager

Individuals in the information security manager career path involves in overseeing and controlling all aspects of computer security. The IT security manager job description includes planning and carrying out security measures to protect the business data and information from corruption, theft, unauthorised access, and deliberate attack 

ITSM Manager

Automation test engineer.

An Automation Test Engineer job involves executing automated test scripts. He or she identifies the project’s problems and troubleshoots them. The role involves documenting the defect using management tools. He or she works with the application team in order to resolve any issues arising during the testing process. 

Applications for Admissions are open.

Aakash iACST Scholarship Test 2024

Get up to 90% scholarship on NEET, JEE & Foundation courses

SAT® | CollegeBoard

Registeration closing on 19th Apr for SAT® | One Test-Many Universities | 90% discount on registrations fee | Free Practice | Multiple Attempts | no penalty for guessing

JEE Main Important Chemistry formulas

As per latest 2024 syllabus. Chemistry formulas, equations, & laws of class 11 & 12th chapters

TOEFL ® Registrations 2024

Thinking of Studying Abroad? Think the TOEFL® test. Register now & Save 10% on English Proficiency Tests with Gift Cards

Resonance Coaching

Enroll in Resonance Coaching for success in JEE/NEET exams

ALLEN JEE Exam Prep

Start your JEE preparation with ALLEN

Everything about Education

Latest updates, Exclusive Content, Webinars and more.

Download Careers360 App's

Regular exam updates, QnA, Predictors, College Applications & E-books now on your Mobile

Cetifications

We Appeared in

Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Patriotism — The True Meaning of Patriotism

The True Meaning of Patriotism

• Categories: Patriotism

About this sample

Words: 910 |

Published: Sep 1, 2020

Words: 910 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

What i learned, works cited.

• Anderson, B. (1991). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso.
• Bellah, R. N. (1991). The broken covenant: American civil religion in time of trial. University of Chicago Press.
• Hobsbawm, E. J. (1992). Nations and nationalism since 1780: Programme, myth, reality. Cambridge University Press.
• Iglesias, F. P. (2003). American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm. Random House.
• Ignatieff, M. (2005). American exceptionalism and human rights. Princeton University Press.
• Primoratz, I. (2002). Patriotism. Ethics, 112(1), 87-120.
• Schudson, M. (1998). The good citizen: A history of American civic life. Harvard University Press.
• Smith, A. D. (2010). Nationalism: Theory, ideology, history. John Wiley & Sons.
• Tamir, Y. (2019). Nationalism and the moral psychology of community. Cambridge University Press.
• Viroli, M. (1995). For love of country: An essay on patriotism and nationalism. Oxford University Press.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Government & Politics

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 510 words

4 pages / 1674 words

3 pages / 1532 words

3.5 pages / 1682 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Patriotism

Children's literature plays a crucial role in shaping the beliefs and values of young minds. It is essential that the messages conveyed in these books are accurate, respectful, and promote critical thinking. "An ABC For Baby [...]

The Pledge of Allegiance, a concise expression of patriotism and loyalty, has played a significant role in American culture and history. This essay examines the origins of the Pledge of Allegiance and its evolution over time. [...]

What is patriotism? This question often elicits varied responses, as patriotism is a concept that can be interpreted in multiple ways. At its core, patriotism involves love and devotion to one's country, but its manifestations [...]

We often conjure up images of individuals who fought valiantly for their country's independence and freedom. In American history, this term is often associated with figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and [...]

The process of nation-building is an effort to develop the spirit of patriotism and solidarity to create a country whose people share a common identity. The major aim is to foster national unity by developing a new nation and an [...]

Was John Brown a terrorist or a patriot? John Brown was contentious abolitionist who helped free slaves. He was a criminal on the outside but a true man on the inside who sparded on a movement. What he did was right, but how he [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Essay on Patriotism 500+ words

Patriotism is a deep love and devotion for one’s country. It’s more than waving a flag; it’s about valuing our nation’s history, culture, and values. In this essay, we’ll explore the importance of patriotism and how it brings people together, fosters pride, and shapes our identity.

A Sense of Belonging

Patriotism creates a sense of belonging. When we feel proud of our country, we feel connected to all its citizens, regardless of our differences. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans believe that being patriotic means loving their country, while 62% say it means respecting their fellow citizens.

Uniting in Times of Crisis

Patriotism unites people during challenging times. When faced with natural disasters or national crises, citizens come together to support each other. For instance, after Hurricane Katrina hit the United States, countless patriotic volunteers rushed to help those in need, showcasing the power of unity.

Patriotism’s Role in History

Throughout history, patriotism has played a crucial role in shaping nations. The American Revolution, for example, was fueled by the deep love for freedom and the desire to build a better nation. Our Founding Fathers were patriots who fought for the principles we hold dear today.

A Source of Civic Responsibility

Patriotism encourages civic responsibility. When we love our country, we’re more likely to engage in activities that benefit society. According to a report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, patriotic individuals are more likely to volunteer, vote, and participate in community projects.

Patriotism as a Bridge

Patriotism acts as a bridge between generations. It helps pass down important values and traditions to younger citizens. Grandparents often share stories of their experiences, teaching their grandchildren about the sacrifices made for the country and instilling a sense of pride.

Fostering Respect for Diversity

Patriotism doesn’t mean we’re all the same; it means we appreciate our diversity. It’s about respecting the rights and beliefs of others, even when they differ from our own. Patriotism promotes tolerance and open dialogue, allowing us to work together for a better future.

Patriotism and National Symbols

National symbols like flags and anthems hold special meaning for patriots. They represent the sacrifices made and the values upheld by a nation. When we see these symbols, we’re reminded of our shared history and the importance of preserving our way of life.

Patriotism and Civic Education

Civic education teaches us about our nation’s history and values, fostering patriotism. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, students who receive a strong civic education are more likely to understand and appreciate the principles upon which their country was founded.

Conclusion of Essay on Patriotism

In conclusion, patriotism is not blind devotion; it’s a deep love and appreciation for our country’s history, culture, and values. It unites us in times of need, fosters civic responsibility, and bridges generations. Patriotism doesn’t erase our differences but encourages us to respect and value them. As we wave our flags and sing our anthems, let us remember that patriotism is a force for unity and pride, shaping our identity as citizens and bringing us together as a nation. By nurturing our patriotism, we ensure a brighter future for ourselves and the generations to come.

Also Check: 500+ Words Essay on Should Plastic be Banned

Essay on Patriotism | Importance | Concept | 100, 150, 200, 300 & 500 Words

Patriotism is a word that gives rise to the feelings of love and respect for one’s country. It is an emotion that can be felt by people of all ages or social statuses. Whether it’s singing the national anthem at a sports event or hoisting the flag on Independence Day, patriotism is an essential part of our lives. Let’s see 5 amazing examples of essay on patriotism.

Essay on Patriotism – 100 + Words

Patriotism is the feeling of love and loyalty for our country. It connects us to our nation. When we are patriotic, we care about our country’s well-being. Patriots help their country make progress. Being patriotic means respecting our flag. It also means appreciating our culture. Being a patriot also means being proud of our country’s achievements. Patriots work together to overcome challenges of any nation. Patriotism teaches us to be responsible citizens. It is a value that should be nourished and celebrated by people of all ages and backgrounds. Patriotism is a feeling we should all aim for. We can show it in different ways, like going to national events or supporting those in need. It’s our duty as citizens to join hands and safeguard our country’s values and freedoms, so that future generations can benefit from them.

Essay on Patriotism | All Class | 150 + Words

Patriotism is a special feeling of love and loyalty towards our own country. It means caring deeply about our nation and wanting to make it better. Being patriotic is like having a strong bond with our mother . We show our love for our country by respecting our flag, appreciating our history, and valuing our traditions. Patriotism is not just for certain groups of people, it is something that everyone can feel. It reminds us to be proud of our country’s achievements and to work together to overcome challenges. When we are patriotic, we understand that we have a responsibility to contribute our part to the progress of our nation. Furthermore, patriotism inspires us to stand up for what is right and just for the good of our country. When faced with challenges or threats to our nation’s safety, patriotism motivates us to act and defend it. In conclusion, patriotism is being patriotic means loving and supporting our nation, and it is something that anyone can embrace.

• Essay on Biodiversity in English
• Essay on Krishna Janmashtami
• Essay on Bhai Dooj
• Essay on New Farm Bill 2020
• Essay on Farmers Suicide in India

Essay on Patriotism | All Class | 200 + Words

Patriotism is the expression of love and devotion towards one’s country. It is the reflection of pride that we feel for our nation and its rich heritage as citizens. When we are patriotic, we deeply care about our country’s well-being and want to make it a better place. Patriotism is not just a word, it’s an emotion that connects us to our nation. It’s the feeling of pride we get when we see our flag flying high. We are filled with respect when we listen to our national anthem being played. Patriotism is important because it gives us a sense of identity and purpose. We become invested in our country’s future and work towards making it better for ourselves and generations to come. Patriotism also promotes unity among people from different backgrounds All people living in a country share a common love for their country. Furthermore, patriotism inspires us to stand up for what is right and just for the good of our country. When faced with challenges or threats to our nation’s safety, patriotism motivates us to take action and defend it. Patriotism motivates us to protect the rights and freedoms that our nation stands for. It inspires us to be good global citizens and to represent our country with dignity and respect. In summary, patriotism is an important quality that unites us as a nation. Let’s welcome patriotism and work hard to improve our country for future generations.

Essay for Patriotism

  When we think of the importance of patriotism, four kinds of people haunt our mind. People of the first kind are those who are chauvinists. They are obsessed with the idea of patriotism. They are practically fascists like Hitler and Mussolini. Such people may be imperialistic like Churchill. The second kind of people is traitors like Quisling. But unlike Quisling, such people generally remain hidden under the surface. Many of them may pose to be great patriots but actually they may be outright traitors. The third kind of people may be just indifferent to the idea of patriotism and they may maintain this indifferent attitude at all times even in the times of calamities and natural disasters. The fourth kind of people, who may be the commonest, may be of the type who remain indifferent to the idea generally but rise to occasion in time of war, floods, earthquakes, cyclones, and famines or other disasters and national calamities. To these kinds may be added a fifth kind. Such people may be more dangerous and treacherous than ordinary traitors. These are the people who engage themselves in antinational activities such as terrorism, communalism, fake currency making, scams, smug selling sensitive military and other information to the enemies of the country, etc.  We must bear in mind that the nation whose people do not have the spirit of patriotism in them, will just disintegrate sooner or later, we must bow to our country which is our motherland where we are born and which supplies us everything we need.  The man who does not love his country is just a dead soul as Sir Walter Scott has said:-

`Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said?  “This is my own, my native land!”

Download the above Paragraph in PDF

Essay on Patriotism | all Class | 300 + Words

Patriotism is not just a word, it’s an emotion that fills our hearts with pride and love for our country. It serves as an inspiration to people all around the world who share similar feelings towards their homeland. It’s not about blind loyalty or following the government blindly, but rather it means to appreciate the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. Patriotism also means standing up for what is right for your country. There have been several patriots who came before us and to work towards creating a better future for generations after us. Being patriotic is important because it instills a sense of unity among citizens of a country. Patriotism also helps in preserving national identity and culture. By celebrating traditions and customs unique to our country, we can embrace diversity while still maintaining a strong sense of belonging. Moreover, patriotism promotes accountability among leaders. When citizens demand change or improvement in their society, they do so out of love for their country and its people. There are certain ways in which we can express ourselves as great patriots. One way to show patriotism is by serving in the military or working for the betterment of society. Another way to express patriotism is by respecting national symbols like flags, anthems, and monuments. It is important to remember that patriotism should never be used as an excuse for hatred towards other countries or cultures. True patriots are those who celebrate diversity and promote unity among their fellow citizens. As citizens of our respective countries, it is essential to understand how our actions impact others around us. We must strive towards creating a peaceful environment where everyone can live together harmoniously without any discrimination based on caste, creed, race, or religion. Whether we are students, teachers, doctors, or farmers, we all can be patriotic and contribute in our ways. It can be through small acts of kindness, volunteering for community service, or actively participating in the democratic process. It’s also important to acknowledge that patriotism can bring unity amongst people who share similar values and beliefs. It may also divide those who don’t agree with each other politically or socially. Therefore, any discussion on patriotism must consider the diverse perspectives of different groups. In conclusion, being patriotic means loving your country wholeheartedly but at the same time respecting other cultures and people around you. Let us all become true patriots by working together to make this world a better place

Essay on Patriotism- 500 + Words

Patriotism, a word that carries immense significance and pride in one’s nation. It is more than just waving flags or singing national anthems; it is an emotion that ignites the fire of love for our country within us. Patriotism comes in many forms and shapes, ranging from acts of sacrifice to simply respecting the laws and institutions of our land. Through this essay on patriotism, we will dive deeper into what patriotism means to us, its importance, benefits, types, and how we can express it in our everyday lives.

What is patriotism?

Patriotism is the devotion and love one feels for their country. It is a deep-rooted emotion that inspires individuals to take pride in their nation’s culture, history, and achievements. Patriotism can be expressed in various ways, from serving in the military to simply following traffic rules. At its core, patriotism is about acknowledging and respecting the values that our country stands for. It means putting aside our individual interests for the greater good of society. Being patriotic doesn’t mean blindly following everything our government does; it means holding them accountable when they fail to uphold those values. Patriotism also involves recognizing and celebrating diversity within our communities while still uniting under a common identity as citizens of a particular country. By embracing each other’s differences, we can work towards creating an inclusive society where everyone feels valued and respected. Patriotism isn’t just about loving your country; it’s about actively working towards making it better. Whether through community service or political activism, every person has a role to play in building a healthier, more prosperous nation.

Definition of patriotism

Patriotism can be defined as the love and devotion that a person has towards their country. It involves recognizing the value and importance of one’s country, its culture, traditions, history, and people. Patriotism is also about showing respect for the symbols and institutions of one’s nation. However, there are different perspectives on what patriotism truly means. Some view it as blind loyalty to one’s government or political leaders while others see it as standing up against injustices perpetrated by those in power. Regardless of how it is interpreted, patriotism plays a significant role in shaping national identity and fostering social cohesion among citizens. It inspires individuals to contribute positively to their communities through acts of service, volunteerism, or civic engagement. In essence, patriotism should be viewed not only as an emotional attachment but also an active commitment towards making society better for all citizens.

The different types of patriotism

Patriotism can take on different forms depending on the individual and their beliefs. Some may express it through their love for their country’s history and culture, while others may show it by serving in the military or community. One type of patriotism is civic patriotism, which involves a commitment to upholding the values and principles of one’s country, such as democracy, freedom, and justice. It often entails being an active participant in society by voting, volunteering, or speaking out against injustice. Another form of patriotism is cultural patriotism which focuses on celebrating and preserving a country’s unique traditions, customs, arts & literature. This kind of Patriotism highlights the importance placed upon language, symbols, and art that have helped shape national identity over time. Militaristic patriotism typically centers around supporting military action taken by one’s government in order to protect its citizens from foreign threats or enemies. This kind of Patriotism has more direct connections with armed forces because they are seen as protecting one’s homeland from external dangers.

The importance of patriotism

Patriotism is an essential aspect of any nation’s culture and identity. It helps to create a sense of unity and belonging among citizens, which is crucial for the development and progress of any country. Patriotism also plays a vital role in promoting national values, traditions, and ideals. One significant importance of patriotism is that it fosters national unity among citizens. When people feel proud to be part of their country, they tend to work towards its prosperity with zeal and enthusiasm. This results in social cohesion, which leads to the stability necessary for sustained growth. Another critical importance of patriotism is that it promotes respect for national institutions such as the government, military forces, judiciary systems etc. Such collective admiration fosters trust among citizens in these institutions resulting in better governance, security as well as law enforcement within state borders. Furthermore, patriotism encourages individuals to participate actively in civic duties such as voting during elections. It emphasizes on citizen participation not only during elections but other forms like volunteering or serving on community boards. This creates trust between governments and citizens leading to stronger democracies where people have more power over decision-making processes. While patriotism has its flaws when taken too far; it serves primarily important roles within nations by fostering loyalty, respect, and appreciation from people living there. Such virtues promote shared goals resulting in peaceful coexistence amongst all groups living within the state borders.

The benefits of patriotism

Patriotism may seem like an abstract concept, but it actually has tangible benefits for both individuals and society as a whole. Here are some of the advantages that come with being patriotic: Firstly, patriotism fosters a sense of unity and belonging among citizens. When people feel connected to their country and its values, they are more likely to work together towards common goals. This can lead to stronger communities, better governance and ultimately, a more prosperous nation. Secondly, patriotism instills a sense of pride in one’s heritage and culture. By celebrating the unique aspects of their country’s history and traditions, citizens can develop a greater appreciation for diversity while also preserving their own identity. Thirdly, patriotism encourages civic engagement and participation in public life. When people care about what happens in their community or country they’re motivated to participate in democracy through voting or volunteering which is essential for maintaining healthy democracies. Studies have shown that patriotic individuals tend to have higher levels of well-being than those who lack national pride. This could be because feeling rooted in something larger than oneself provides comfort during difficult times. In short , Patriotism brings many individual benefits such as fostering unity, bolstering self-esteem, civic duty, and improved well-being

How to Express Patriotism

Expressing patriotism is a personal choice that can take many forms. One way to express patriotism is by flying the flag of your country outside your house or on your car. This simple act shows everyone that you are proud of where you come from and support its values. Another way to express patriotism is by participating in community events such as parades or festivals celebrating national holidays. These events bring people together, fostering a sense of unity and pride for their shared heritage. Furthermore, supporting local businesses and products made in your home country can also be viewed as a form of patriotism. By choosing to buy locally-made goods, you are contributing to the growth and success of your nation’s economy. Additionally, volunteering for causes that support veterans, first responders, or other public servants who risk their lives for the safety and well-being of others can show gratitude towards those who have sacrificed so much for our nation. Expressing patriotism doesn’t have to be grandiose gestures; it can be small actions that reflect one’s love and appreciation for their homeland.

What patriotism means to me

Patriotism means different things to different people, and for me, it’s all about love for my country. It’s the feeling of pride that comes with being a part of something bigger than myself – a nation with its own unique culture, history, and values. To me, patriotism is also about responsibility. As citizens, we have a duty to contribute positively to our society and work towards making it better for future generations. This could mean volunteering in our communities or getting involved in politics to help shape policies that benefit everyone. Another aspect of patriotism that resonates with me is the idea of unity. Despite our differences in race, religion or political beliefs, we are all united by our love for this country. Patriotism reminds us that we are stronger when we stand together as one nation under God. Patriotism inspires gratitude within me – gratitude for the sacrifices made by those who came before us to secure the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today. It motivates me to do my part in preserving these rights and ensuring they remain available for generations to come. Patriotism is more than just waving flags on Independence Day or singing national anthems; it’s an enduring commitment towards building a better tomorrow while honoring our past heritage.

How to express patriotism

Expressing patriotism can be as simple as displaying the national flag on special occasions or singing the national anthem with pride. However, there are other ways you can show your love for your country. Firstly, being an active and responsible citizen is a great way to express patriotism. This includes paying taxes, obeying laws, and participating in community service activities. Secondly, supporting local businesses and products can also be seen as a form of patriotism. By doing so, you are contributing to the growth of your country’s economy. Thirdly, educating yourself about your country’s history and culture is vital in expressing patriotism. Knowing about significant events that shaped the nation and celebrating cultural festivals helps promote unity among citizens. Spreading positivity about your country through social media platforms or personal interactions also shows how much you care for it. Highlight its achievements and progress as well as acknowledge its shortcomings while striving towards positive change. Expressing patriotism goes beyond just waving flags or reciting anthems; it requires one to actively participate in building a better nation.

Patriotism is a vital element that every citizen of any country should embrace. It brings about unity, helps us to appreciate our heritage and culture, and motivates us to work towards the development of our nation. Patriotism instills in us the sense of responsibility and encourages us to contribute towards making our nation a better place for ourselves and future generations. As citizens, we must strive to promote harmony amongst fellow nationals irrespective of their religion, race or background. Therefore, let’s all express patriotism through various means such as volunteering for community service projects or actively participating in national events. Let’s take pride in our country by promoting peace and unity wherever we find ourselves. Ultimately it is up to each individual patriot to decide how they want their love for their country expressed but always remember that expressing patriotism goes beyond just words – it requires actions.

1.What does patriotism imply in everyday life? Ans : Patriotism manifests in various ways in everyday life. Here are some examples of what patriotism implies in our daily lives: 1) Being patriotic means understanding and following the laws of our country. It implies that we respect the rules and regulations set forth by our government and strive to be law-abiding citizens. 2) Patriotism involves actively participating in civic duties. This can include voting in elections, voicing our opinions on important matters, and staying informed about current events. By engaging in these activities, we contribute to the democratic process and help shape the future of our country. 3) Patriotism extends to our local communities. It implies being actively involved in community service, volunteering, and supporting local initiatives. By giving back to our community, we contribute to its well-being and foster a sense of unity among its members. 4) Patriotism implies embracing the diversity that exists within our country. It means treating all individuals with respect and fairness, regardless of their background, ethnicity, religion, or beliefs. By promoting inclusivity, we strengthen the fabric of our society and work towards a more harmonious nation. In essence, patriotism in everyday life means being an active and engaged citizen who contributes positively to the betterment of our country. It involves upholding the values, principles, and responsibilities that come with being a member of our nation.

2. How is patriotism much better than nationalism? Even though nationalism is a negative concept, why do people follow it? Ans : Patriotism and nationalism are two related but distinct concepts, and their differences lie in their underlying principles and implications. While patriotism can be seen as a positive and inclusive love for one’s country, nationalism often carries more negative connotations and can lean towards exclusionary and aggressive tendencies. Patriotism, at its core, represents a deep love, pride, and loyalty towards one’s own country. It emphasizes a sense of belonging and a desire to contribute to the well-being of the nation. nationalism tends to focus on the superiority and interests of one’s nation over others. It can lead to an exclusionary mindset, fostering divisions and animosity towards those who are perceived as different. Nationalism often prioritizes the pursuit of power and dominance, potentially leading to aggression, discrimination, and conflict. Despite the negative aspects associated with nationalism, some people may still follow it for various reasons. These reasons can include historical factors, a sense of collective identity, economic concerns, or political manipulation. Nationalism can sometimes be used as a tool by individuals or groups to exploit emotions, promote divisive ideologies, or gain power. Additionally, people might be influenced by cultural conditioning, social pressures, or a lack of exposure to alternative perspectives.

3. How important are nationalism and patriotism to having a better nation? Ans : Nationalism and patriotism are important for building a better nation because they foster unity, promote development, and contribute to social stability. They instill a sense of pride and collective identity among citizens, motivating them to work together for their country’s progress. Nationalism and patriotism also help preserve a nation’s cultural heritage and encourage civic responsibility. However, it is important to promote a balanced and inclusive form of nationalism and patriotism that respects diversity and promotes global cooperation.

4. Why is nationalism better than pseudo-liberalism? Ans : Nationalism and pseudo-liberalism are different concepts, so it is not accurate to say one is better than the other. However, pseudo-liberalism, which is an extreme form of liberalism, can have negative consequences. It may prioritize individual freedoms without considering the well-being of society as a whole. In contrast, nationalism, when expressed positively and inclusively, can foster unity and collective progress. It promotes social cohesion and a commitment to the nation. Striving for a balanced approach that respects both individual rights and the needs of the community is important.

5. Which is better for a state, patriotism or nationalism? Ans : Patriotism, with its emphasis on love and loyalty towards one’s country while respecting diversity, is generally considered better for a state than extreme nationalism. Patriotism promotes unity, civic responsibility, and a strong society, while extreme nationalism can lead to divisions and conflicts. Striking a balance and promoting a healthy form of patriotism allows for a united and inclusive state that values cooperation and respects individual rights.

Related Posts

• marquette.edu //
• Contacts //
• A-Z Index //
• Give to Marquette

Marquette.edu  //  Career Center  //  Resources  // 

Properly Write Your Degree

The correct way to communicate your degree to employers and others is by using the following formats:

Degree - This is the academic degree you are receiving. Your major is in addition to the degree; it can be added to the phrase or written separately.  Include the full name of your degree, major(s), minor(s), emphases, and certificates on your resume.

Double Majors - You will not be receiving two bachelor's degrees if you double major. Your primary major determines the degree (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). If you're not fully sure which of your majors is primary, check CheckMarq or call the registrar's office.

Example: Primary Major: Psychology ; Secondary Major: Marketing

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology & Marketing

Primary Major: Marketing ; Secondary Major: Psychology

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing & Psychology

In a letter, you may shorten your degree by writing it this way:

• In May 20XX, I will graduate with my Bachelor's degree in International Affairs.
• In December 20XX, I will graduate with my Master's degree in Counseling Education.

Not sure which degree you are graduating with? Here is a list of Undergraduate Majors and corresponding degrees:

• College of Arts & Sciences
• College of Business Administration
• College of Communication
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Health Sciences
• College of Nursing  

• Online Resources
• Handouts and Guides
• College/Major Specific Resources
• Grad Program Specific Resources
• Diverse Population Resource s
• Affinity Group Resources
• Schedule an Appointment
• Major/Career Exploration
• Internship/Job Search
• Graduate/Professional School
• Year of Service
• Resume and Cover Letter Writing

• Login to Handshake
• Getting Started with Handshake
• Handshake Support for Students
• Handshake Support for Alumni
• Handshake Information for Employers

CONNECT WITH US

PROBLEM WITH THIS WEBPAGE? Report an accessibility problem  

To report another problem, please contact  [email protected]

Marquette University Holthusen Hall, First Floor Milwaukee, WI 53233 Phone: (414) 288-7423

• Campus contacts
• Search marquette.edu

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Privacy Policy Legal Disclaimer Non-Discrimination Policy Accessible Technology

© 2024 Marquette University

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Nijole Sadunaite, Lithuanian Nun Who Opposed Soviet Rule, Dies at 85

A dissident who promoted democracy and religious freedom, she was arrested by the K.G.B. After independence from Moscow, she was honored by Lithuania’s Parliament.

By Sam Roberts

Nijole Sadunaite, a fearless but forgiving Roman Catholic nun and anti-Soviet Lithuanian nationalist who was inspired by Pope John Paul II and publicly hailed by President Ronald Reagan, died on March 31 in Vilnius. She was 85.

Her death was confirmed by Sister Gerarda Elena Suliauskaite, laureate of the Freedom Prize of the Republic of Lithuania, which was also given to Sister Sadunaite in 2018 for her defense of democracy and human rights. She was the first woman to receive the award.

In 1975, Sister Sadunaite (pronounced sah-DOO-nay-teh) was arrested by K.G.B. agents who had stormed an apartment where she was writing an underground newspaper, The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, which documented abuses against Christians in the Baltic state.

“I had typed six pages when I was caught, so I effectively got one year for every page,” she told The Atlantic in 1994.

She was incarcerated for six years, most of which she spent in prison and some of which she spent in a mental institution and in exile in a Siberian penal colony.

For most of the 1980s, Sister Sadunaite largely remained out of public view, but she was instrumental in organizing a rally in 1987 that galvanized the movement for Lithuanian independence. Hundreds of Lithuanians thundered the patriotic anthem of national independence, which had been banned by the 1939 nonaggression pact between Hitler and Stalin, a deal that, in effect, condoned the Soviet seizure of Lithuania.

The year of the rally, the manuscript of a memoir she had secretly taken to Moscow six years earlier and smuggled out of the Soviet Union was published in the United States. Titled “A Radiance in the Gulag,” it was reviewed in The Los Angeles Times as “a richly textured narrative of faith in action against overwhelming odds.”

That same year, Sister Sadunaite emerged from hiding to lead a demonstration that vitalized the movement for independence. In 1988, she and other dissidents were invited to lunch at the American embassy in Moscow, and she joined a table with President Reagan and the first lady, Nancy Reagan; Mr. Reagan had been attending summit meetings with the Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev.

Undaunted by persecution and imprisonment, Sister Sadunaite remained a spirited voice for religious freedom and for national independence from the officially atheistic Soviet Union. Lithuania unilaterally declared independence in 1990.

Felicija Nijole Sadunaite was born on July 22, 1938, in Kaunas, a city in central Lithuania, to Veronika Rimkute-Saduniene and Jonas Sadunas, who was an agronomist and teacher.

Her very religious Roman Catholic family lived in constant fear of being deported to a Siberian labor camp for practicing their religion. In her memoir, she wrote: “Whenever we heard automobile motors roaring early in the morning, we would all run out into the grain fields to hide, lest they take us off to Siberia. This is how most Lithuanians lived, as if on the rim of a volcano.”

In 1956, she was so moved by her friend’s confirmation (she had been confirmed when she was 7) that she joined a clandestine convent and, until her death, served in the monastery of the Congregation of the Maids of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, in Pavilny, a part of Vilnius.

Despite having been trained as a nurse, after her release from prison Sister Sadunaite could find work only as a charwoman under Soviet rule.

While some dissidents would become more conciliatory toward Moscow after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sister Sadunaite remained steadfastly opposed to the Russian government. But, remarkably, she never expressed bitterness toward her captors or her tormentors. Rather, she repeatedly said that the church’s role in bringing justice was not only to pray for the oppressed, but also to pray that the oppressors themselves would be courageous enough to ask for forgiveness.

“Even if an evil person were in trouble,” she wrote from prison, “I would share my last morsel of bread with him.”

After she was arrested in 1975, K.G.B. officers demanded that she divulge the names of the editors of her underground Catholic newspaper.

She refused. Instead, she told the authorities that they were culpable for any criticism of the government because the editorials were largely in response to the state’s official policy of persecution and anti-religious propaganda.

Sister Sadunaite often said that her activism was inspired in part by the experience of Pope John Paul II, a native of Poland whose resistance to atheism, she said, helped accelerate the collapse of European communism.

“The pope was someone who had escaped from the same system that was oppressing us,” she told The Atlantic.

“He said that people who fight and die for their country are not only martyrs but may be holy,” she said. “We took that to mean that the pope understood what we were doing, and that we should do whatever it took to free our land. He said it again and again. He made me want to be strong and courageous, too, even when I was afraid.”

An earlier version of this obituary misstated the year of the nonaggression pact between Hitler and Stalin. It was 1939, not 1940.

How we handle corrections

Sam Roberts is an obituaries reporter for The Times, writing mini-biographies about the lives of remarkable people. More about Sam Roberts

What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?

It almost time! Millions of Americans across the country Monday are preparing to witness the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse as it passes over portions of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

It's a sight to behold and people have now long been eagerly awaiting what will be their only chance until 2044 to witness totality, whereby the moon will completely block the sun's disc, ushering in uncharacteristic darkness.

That being said, many are curious on what makes the solar eclipse special and how is it different from a lunar eclipse.

The total solar eclipse is today: Get the latest forecast and everything you need to know

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when any celestial object like a moon or a planet passes between two other bodies, obscuring the view of objects like the sun, according to NASA .

What is a solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching our planet, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. The resulting "totality," whereby observers can see the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, known as the corona, presents a spectacular sight for viewers and confuses animals – causing nocturnal creatures to stir and bird and insects to fall silent.

Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rare sight.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. When this happens, Earth blocks the sunlight that normally reaches the moon. Instead of that sunlight hitting the moon’s surface, Earth's shadow falls on it.

Lunar eclipses are often also referred to the "blood moon" because when the Earth's shadow covers the moon, it often produces a red color. The coloration happens because a bit of reddish sunlight still reaches the moon's surface, even though it's in Earth's shadow.

Difference between lunar eclipse and solar eclipse

The major difference between the two eclipses is in the positioning of the sun, the moon and the Earth and the longevity of the phenomenon, according to NASA.

A lunar eclipse can last for a few hours, while a solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes. Solar eclipses also rarely occur, while lunar eclipses are comparatively more frequent. While at least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, total lunar eclipses are still rare, says NASA.

Another major difference between the two is that for lunar eclipses, no special glasses or gizmos are needed to view the spectacle and one can directly stare at the moon. However, for solar eclipses, it is pertinent to wear proper viewing glasses and take the necessary safety precautions because the powerful rays of the sun can burn and damage your retinas.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY