What is Constitutional Patriotism? How is it used in his three speeches to gather the spirits of the Americans? How does the notion of nation state differ between the EU and the United States?
According to Ernest Gellner “It is nationalism which engenders nations, and not the other way round.” Surely most nations were formed on a nationalistic idea, but with nationalism follows patriotism and a sense of proselytisation. First of all what is a nation and why is it of relevance for today's international system?
A nation defines itself through its territory, its culture and its political community which is represented and run by a sovereign organized government. The unite state acts motivated by self interests. States are the most common structure of state organisation in the international system. They enjoy independence and legitimacy. Nation states are of extraordinary relevance for the field of international relations because they are more robust once they are established based on a distinct nationality. Moreover, it is the only structure in which “the growth of democracy is possible and which does not have a tendency to expand its territory.” This strong and steady status of nations turned out to be crucial for the development of “modern financial, industrial and technological civilization in Western Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.”
It was only in the 16th and 17th century that the people of a state obtained the right to choose their representatives, before that they were “subjects” to the ruler of the state. “States ruled in that way had seven different forms, personal rule, theocracy, city state, oligarchy, military state, tribal state, and empire.”
Table of Contents
1. What is Constitutional Patriotism?
2. How is it used in his three speeches to gather the spirits of the Americans?
3. How does the notion of nation state differ between the EU and the United States?
Objectives and Topics
This essay examines the application of constitutional patriotism in speeches by President Barack Obama in response to terrorism, exploring how this concept serves to unify a diverse citizenry based on shared liberal-democratic values rather than ethnic identity. Furthermore, it analyzes the differences in the conceptualization of the nation-state between the United States and the European Union.
- Theoretical foundations of constitutional patriotism
- Obama's rhetorical use of shared values for national unity
- Comparative analysis of nation-state concepts (EU vs. USA)
- Contrasts between civic nationalism and ethnic identity
- The role of civil religion in political integration
Excerpt from the Book
Obama’s speech after the killing of Osama bin Laden:
Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.
And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.
Summary of Chapters
1. What is Constitutional Patriotism?: This chapter defines the theoretical framework of constitutional patriotism as a form of political identification built on norms, values, and democratic constitutions, contrasted against ethnicity-based nationalism.
2. How is it used in his three speeches to gather the spirits of the Americans?: This chapter analyzes how President Obama strategically employs the concept of constitutional patriotism in his rhetoric to unify the American public after terrorist events by invoking shared liberal values.
3. How does the notion of nation state differ between the EU and the United States?: This chapter compares how the EU and the USA utilize constitutional patriotism to integrate diverse populations, noting that while they share similarities, the underlying concepts of the nation-state remain distinct.
Keywords
Constitutional patriotism, Barack Obama, terrorism, nationalism, civic identity, liberal-democratic values, United States, European Union, political integration, civil religion, multiculturalism, 9/11, Paris attacks, national identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper explores the role of constitutional patriotism as a tool for political unity in the context of anti-terror speeches delivered by President Barack Obama.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the theoretical definition of constitutional patriotism, its application in political rhetoric, the contrast between civic and ethnic nationalism, and the comparative analysis of the nation-state in the US and the EU.
What is the primary research goal of the study?
The study aims to analyze how constitutional patriotism is used by leaders to unify citizens after terrorist attacks and how this concept differs between the United States and the European Union.
Which scientific methods are employed in this analysis?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis, specifically examining rhetorical strategies in presidential speeches and contrasting them with established political theories regarding nationalism and state legitimacy.
What content is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the definition of constitutional patriotism, its practical application in Obama’s speeches, the concept of American 'civil religion,' and a comparative discussion of how different political entities build national identification.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by keywords such as constitutional patriotism, political identification, civic nationalism, national identity, and anti-terror policy.
How does the author characterize the difference between the US and EU in terms of nationhood?
The author argues that while both rely on constitutional patriotism for integration, the US has a model of state allegiance through a constitution, whereas the EU struggles with balancing individual national cultures with a pan-European identification mechanism.
Why does the author focus on Obama's rhetoric?
Obama's speeches are treated as a case study to demonstrate how a modern democratic leader can effectively leverage constitutional principles to foster unity without relying on potentially divisive ethnic or cultural markers.
- Citar trabajo
- Otto Möller (Autor), 2016, Constitutional Patriotism in Obama’s Anti-Terror Speeches, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/459778
