- Paperback: 64 pages
- Publisher: Civitas:Institute for the Study of Civil Society; 2nd Revised edition edition (13 Feb 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1903386497
- ISBN-13: 978-1903386491
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.6 x 1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 479,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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The nation state is the best safeguard for liberty.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A sterling defence of national loyalty.,
By Excalibur (London, UK.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: England and the Need for Nations (Paperback)
The English philosopher Roger Scruton has written a pamphlet that concisely states the benefits of the nation state as against the threats posed to it by immigration and supranational organisations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and the European Union.
Scruton argues only nation states have proved themselves in providing the rule of law. Supranational organisations are untried and the danger is that once the power is taken away from nation states and given to these organisations, they may prove a failure and the result could end in catastrophe. Supranational organisation such as the European Union and the United Nations Charter are at war with nature, ignoring that people possess an instinctive attachment to hearth and home. Instead, they are based on the error of 'universal human rights' and that people are a blank slate, without history and identity. Scruton argues that if law making powers are taken away from national parliaments and given to supranational organisations, nations will no longer come to see the law as being made by their compatriots and so will no longer feel the need to obey them. In short, if people see the law as being made by 'them' instead of 'us', that creates a dangerous situation. Nations provide the populations of states a common identity that is the only tried and tested basis for democracy. If the demos is the nation, individuals in that nation will tolerate opposition because, despite their differences, they are aware that their opponents belong to the same community as themselves and so this prevents civil war. Therefore, if a nation comes under attack, individuals are much more likely to feel solidarity with each other; nationalism is a common bond. As a conservative, Scruton opposes the radical nationalism of the French Revolution and the 'rights of man' school; his idea of nationalism is much more pacific and centred on territory and law rather than on the inalienable rights of nations to pursue their desires unrestrained. The influence of Burke is evident. Scruton also rejects ethnic nationalism, believing that nationalism can unite people of different races and religions. The reason for the decline of nationalism amongst the élite since 1945 is due to the prevalence of what Scruton labels 'oikophobia': the "disposition, in any conflict, to side with 'them' against 'us', and the felt need to denigrate the customs, culture and institutions that are identifiably 'ours'" (p. 36). Scruton also criticises 'free-market dogma' and the World Trade Organisation for overruling national laws and superimposing rules on poorer states. Free trade is neither attainable nor desirable and multinational corporations should customise their logos, buildings and products to the customs of the countries they open businesses. This is a clarion call to defend the nation state against encroachment. The power to take back what has been surrendered is still within our hands. We can be 'a nation once again'.
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