Orwell defined nationalism not as “patriotism,” or the love of one’s country, but as “the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.”

In 1945, George Orwell diagnosed the matter of ideological tribalism in his essay, “Notes on Nationalism.” His thoughts have proved incredibly prescient. This tribalism occurs within the intelligentsia as well as among the masses the only difference is that the tribalism of intellectuals is usually ideological rather than partisan.

As Lee Drutman of the New York Times observes, “Rather than being one two-party nation, we are becoming two one-party nations.” It all amounts to an ugly form of tribalism in which individuals are driven to act primarily by loyalty to their party. Liberals and conservatives are getting their news from different channels, placing their trust in different institutions, and associating more and more with those who hold similar political beliefs. American politics is becoming increasingly polarized.

George orwell nationalism essay