Is nationalism synonymous with racism?

Nationalism is not necessarily synonymous with racism, but the two concepts can be conflated or linked, depending on the context and implementation.

Ben Shapiro explains that nationalism, at its core, is about prioritizing a nation's interests, which is not inherently racist or anti-Semitic. For instance, when President Trump identified himself as a nationalist, Shapiro argues he was focusing on U.S. border security rather than promoting racial superiority 1. Shapiro contends that associating nationalism strictly with white supremacy is misleading and oversimplifies the issue 2.

Conversely, Kwame Anthony Appiah highlights that certain forms of nationalism, especially historical ones like that of the Nazis, did intertwine deeply with racial ideologies. The Nazis' view of nationalism was inseparable from their racist beliefs, thus illustrating how nationalism can become racialized under specific ideologies and historical contexts 3.

Ultimately, while nationalism and racism are distinct concepts, their overlap can occur, especially when nationalism adopts racial criteria or exclusionary practices. The nature of their relationship often depends on how and by whom nationalism is mobilized.