Pankaj Mishra’s book Essay

The Relationship between Nationalism and Imperialism

The book by Pankaj Mishra will be used in this essay to show how nationalism and anti-imperialism have historically interacted. Mishra initially depicts nationalism and imperialism as having a diametrically opposed relationship. Surprisingly, the works demonstrate in some cases that it is possible to bring these diametrically opposed ideas together.

The Concept of Imperial Nationalism

The concept of imperial nationalism will be examined in the paper as a means of colonialism’s reconciliation. It is a term used to describe patriotism that advocates changing the state or imperial authority in a way that benefits the country while also emphasizing the advantages of the change in the empire. A crucial element of the nationalist disclosure is the maintenance of the imperial-connection as beneficial for the nation. In other words, nationalism doesn’t always support independence from empires or state while imperialism is a vehicle that drives national mission or can instead strengthen minority nations. In the book “From the Ruins of Empire” the author’s attention is on the attempts of Asian thinkers (in Turkey, China, Iran, India, Afghanistan) to restructure their political and cultural identities when they experienced collisions with the imperialists from the west (Mishra, 185). His explanation starts in the 19th century first half where the West was in the process of approaching ascendancy in India, Muslim World, as well East Asia. It distances firm disillusionment of Asia with the modernity of the West via two main world wars and later on leads to the rise of global Islam, China, and India, as well the rumoured fallout of the west. In the book, it is evident Pankaj Mishra is too often making efforts to show that these voices of non-western have been silent in east-west clash Anglophone-accounts like whether intellectual creativity and dynamism lay only with the western modernity. Through all this evidence, I believe anti-imperialism leads to nationalism regarding politics and governance. Nationalism can be both effect and cause of anti-imperialism as well imperialism.

The Significance of Nationalism

Nationalism is where one thinks his or her country is the best, and anything the country needs is the priority. On the other hand, Imperialist like or interests is to acquire more land for the nation (Mishra, 184). Anti-Imperialism is always against the acts of land gains. For instance, if the nation’s mindset is nationalistic, it is automatic the country will do all it takes to prove they are the best, and their goals come before anything else. It means it will lead to trying to obtain more land, to strengthen the country’s image, which is basically, attempts to be the best. But there is also a situation where nations are against getting more lands, as a way of proving to other countries or people they are politically the best, and their governance is the priority (Mishra, 184). In states that have undergone decolonization, there is a high potential of the occupants to begin having the feeling of greater nationalism. It is not necessary for them to take their nation as a superior one when compared to others, but they are going to have some elements of a sense of unity and a desire for their country’s independence. It is a type of patriotism which is as a result of anti-imperialism (Mishra, 185). Such form of nationalism was seen in Vietnam on many occasions in its history due to wars such as; Anglo-Afghan wars, Russo-Japanese war, and the first Sino-Japanese war. Vietnamese finally felt nationalism at times when the nation was conquered by China. In the 20th century, is the time it came to experience it again when their country first had colonization from France and later on by Japan. It is a type of nationalism that made them have a connection with each other and offered them a strong desire to abandon imperial powers.

The Bond between Nationalism and Anti-Imperialism

Nationalism and anti-imperialism hold a bond in a manner that nationalism is the subject matter which paves the way towards anti-imperialism. For example, when inhabitants of a certain country become more possessed with the nation alone, it means they will fight nail and tooth for the nation’s rights and eventually its freedom (Mishra, 185). It ultimately leads to imperialism under which dominance and power are extended. For instance, during the scramble for Africa, the British rule was imperialism. Individuals who were against them for the sake of their nations such as Gandhi or Jinnah were nationalists. Another example was in the 18th century when India was conquered by the British, they ruled strictly for some time and then the occupants turned to nationalism and had self-determination to acquire their freedom (Mishra, 184). Through imperialism, nations are taken over, while via nationalism, people fight to have their freedom, rights, and rescue their country from the imperialists.

The Disillusionment of Asian Intellectuals

Besides, Mishra shows no pity at all for broad-brush and big accounts for eastern hopelessness and western success. Instead, he is more carried away by the disastrous moral uncertainty of his tale. The book is exposing some of the most thoughtful and educated men in Asia such as Liang Qichao from China, Persia’s Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, and Rabindranath Tagore from India, to an extraordinary crisis of spiritual, moral, as well as intellectual confidence (Mishra, 184). These educated men found themselves in a position that forced them to look far beyond homegrown traditions.

Liang Qichao took his time to attack Chinese antiquity as a form of internal cancer while he addressed paeans to Napoleon through writing. Al-Afghani is known to be among the first thinkers in the Islamic religion to notice that history was relying on the Koran’s God (Mishra, 184). On the other hand, Tagore was renowned all over the globe due to his English-language poetry. It is apparent, all of these three leading thinkers were disillusioned by the western civilization hence deciding to return to native resources (Mishra, 185). Al-Afghani identified himself as a religious extremist as a way to fake a forceful blend of pan-Islamism and nationalism, supporting the intense struggle against western modernity. As the end was approaching, he maintained the potential to sera disapproval of his fellow Muslims and aware of the Asian fanaticism and tyranny perils. The youthful worship of Liang Qichao of the west’s newspapers as well parliaments disappeared in middle-age into gratuitous western-vandalism miserable observation which climaxed in the First World War. On the other hand, Rabindranath Tagore created a specific tendency towards eastern-mysticism in later years and was well-attuned to colonial humiliation feelings (Mishra, 185). In 1919, he had a chance to abandon his British-knighthood in protest at the protestor’s massacre of imperial administration in North India.

Works cited

Mishra, Atul. “From the ruins of empire: The revolt against the West and the remaking of Asia.” (2013): 184-185.