Patriotism | Notion

Patriotism is mostly an emotional and self-deluding idea, and these days it’s more of an active problem than a neutral concept. It puts up obstacles (for yourself only) against building resilient, fast-moving systems with the rest of the world. While other countries are developing shared platforms and partnerships, getting hung up on national pride is just a Trump-esque diva move — self-exclusion to avoid the risk of dealing with the reality of a competitive world.

Most of us already live globalised lives. We buy products from abroad, watch content from everywhere and collaborate across borders. Being proud of where you’re from is one thing, but using that as the basis for political decision-making is inherently regressive.

In the UK, it’s especially out of place. We haven’t been a major power for a long time, and trying to relive that era is like a 70-year-old boxer stepping back into the ring chasing old glory. It’s contextually retarded. Instead of looking backwards, we should be focusing on deeper cooperation — in trade, science and politics — to stay relevant and connected.

Any country trying to go it alone will fall behind. The US has already started drifting in that direction — pulling out of the WHO, slapping up tariffs, disengaging from international standards. It’s a cautionary tale of what happens when pride overrides progress. China, ironically, demonstrates a more functional patriotism — but it works because they are politically united and continue to push for strategic engagement with the global community.

And when it comes to the left, patriotism just doesn’t sit nicely. Left-wing politics is rooted in progressivism, cooperation and a rejection of arbitrary ideas like borders and blood ties. You can’t credibly hold these values and then elevate patriotism into your ethos. It’s incoherent.

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