Topic: Rising Nationalism and Political Extremism
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Nuala Richards
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All South Africa position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Nationalism emphasizes the collective of a specific nation, which in practice has translated that a nation is the people described within popular sovereignty, this devotion overlooking the interests of groups or individuals. Nationalist movements have had success in unifying several states as well as driving independence movements, drawing inspiration from the French revolution, and earlier American revolution. However, nationalism also has the potential to polarize and destroy nations.
Two main nationalist movements have developed in South Africa, black nationalism and white Afrikaner nationalism. Black nationalism is focused on improving the status and rights of Africans amidst the colonialism and Apartheid. Meanwhile, Afrikaner Nationalism focuses on a narrower government and white supremacy. Black nationalist ideas can be seen in the ANC, which was the political party that brought an end to the apartheid. Today the ANC is still in power and efforts are still being made to right the disparities originating from the apartheid. Unlike the USA and other places, nationalism and extremism have not brought any significant terrorist attacks or major militant groups.
