Integral Nationalism ed

The individual is nothing- the state is everything

Integral Nationalism rejects liberal or Risorgimento nationalism. Risorgimento nationalism pertains to a nation seeking to establish a state, such as Greece, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Serbia in the 17th century. In contrast, integral nationalism emerges after a nation has attained independence and established a state. Examples include Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Key characteristics of integral nationalism include radical extremism, right-wing ideology, and aggressive-expansionist militarism. North Korea exhibits some of these characteristics. Integral states are totalitarian, with the government dominating all aspects of society. This form of nationalism is influenced by the "nationalisme integrale" of French nationalist Charles Maurras, who emphasized prioritizing one's country above all else. Integralism posits that society is an organic unit with a social hierarchy and cooperation among different social classes. Integral nationalism tends to arise in countries where a strong military ethos is ingrained during the struggle for independence, leading to a belief in the necessity of a robust military post-independence for ensuring state security and viability. The success of the liberation struggle can instill feelings of national superiority, fueling extreme nationalism. Integral nationalism defines the relationship between the individual and the state.


In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Borg are a group of cyborgs that search the galaxy for assimilatable people, technology, and cultures. They are not made up of a single species but consist of countless ‘drones’ whom they have forcibly assimilated into their group. There are no individuals within the Borg as each drone is linked together via a hive mind called “The Collective.” Once connected, individuality is absorbed and subsumed. The individual becomes a techno-zombie, possessed by the vast hive mind. 

This is a reasonable parallel to the concept of integral nationalism some of its qualities include anti-individualism and aggressive expansionism. Integral nationalist states were usually totalitarian, where the state dominated all aspects of society.