Defining patriotism
This year, November 11th marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. To commemorate this historical landmark, President Emmanuel Macron of France hosted a service attended by dozens of world leaders in Paris to reflect on the atrocities of the war and the values that so many fought bravely to defend. The ceremony took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the l’Arc de Triomphe to honor the 8.5 million people that gave their lives between 1914 and 1918. The commemoration of World War One not only provides a venue for reflecting on the past, but also one for looking towards the future.
Following the remembrance service, Macron and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany hosted the Paris Peace Forum, which was created to inspire international dialogue between countries and envision a future of enduring peace and cooperation. While the conference brought together a diverse group of leaders to think about international solutions to current economic, security, and governance issues, it was missing one notable figure – the President of the United States. While other world leaders were attending the Paris Peace Forum on November 13th to discuss global governance, President Trump took to Twitter to criticize France and Macron’s leadership. The tweets appear to be triggered by Macron’s suggestion of creating a united European army, which Merkel subsequently supported in her speech at the conference. Merkel claimed that a united European army would demonstrate that there would never again be a war between European states. In response, Trump tweeted, “…But it was Germany in World Wars I & II – How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along.” This insensitive comment was followed by several others that criticized France’s trade policy, ridiculed Macron’s approval rating, and blamed Macron for the country’s unemployment rate.
These comments followed a packed rally in Houston, Texas, just weeks earlier, where Trump officially defined himself as a nationalist. As World War One and World War Two were caused, in part, by the propagation of nationalist ideology, Trump’s public self-identification provided notable subtext to the speeches of several world leaders in Paris last week. Reflecting on the two largest international conflicts in history, Macron delivered a powerful speech during the remembrance ceremony that sharply differentiated the virtues of patriotism from the dangers of nationalism. Macron proclaimed:
“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. In saying ‘our interests first, whatever happens to the others,’ you erase the most precious thing a nation can have, that which makes it live, that which causes it to be great and that which is most important: Its moral values.”
Following this, Macron conveyed his concerns about the growing nationalist movements inspired by populist leaders across Europe and the United States, as well as the risks that they pose to international cooperation and peace. In recent years, as isolationist and protectionist rhetoric has proliferated, so has skepticism about the value of international institutions that facilitate multilateralism. Examples of the retreat from international institutions include the United States’ threat to pull out of the World Trade Organization and the decision in the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.
However, there was a reason for the birth of multilateral institutions in the wake of the two World Wars. These conflicts brought immense pain and suffering to countries across the world, which motivated political leaders to create spaces for international dialogue and negotiation, in the hopes that these forums would deter future conflict. These institutions, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, have had a transformative impact on the international political landscape over the last seventy years. The centennial commemoration of World War One’s armistice is a poignant reminder of the real reasons that these states came together to form these institutions originally. These institutions and alliances are based on the foundations of freedom, democracy, peace, liberty, and self-determination – the same values that millions of soldiers fought and died to protect during the world’s two largest and deadliest wars.
As the world faces new threats, escalating environmental challenges, and an uncertain technological future, it is easy to choose isolation and care only for the prosperity within our own borders. However, this is not the choice that the soldiers of World War One made. The soldiers that fought and died in the World Wars did not only fight to defend their home country, they fought for something much larger: the values of freedom, friendship, liberty, and good governance. During the first World War, millions paid the ultimate price in a demonstration of their willingness to protect foreign friends, defend common values, and ensure a future of freedom and self-determination for generations to come. As we navigate the challenges before us today, it is imperative that we take time to reflect on these values and carry them forward in the decisions that we make for tomorrow.
Lest we forget.