[ALOCHONA] In defence of Bangladeshi nationalism

Tamina M Chowdhury wrote: "Globalism is still a myth ..."
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TURKMAN: Right, right. Chew Bangladeshi Beetle Leaves or Raj Shahi Pan in Los Angles on the other side of the world, Bangladeshi products sold everywhere on this Globe. Everything manufactured anwyere can be found everywhere on this Globe. Internet hooks us all up globally. Bangladeshi can be found in almost all countries of this Globe. News travels globally faster than I can reach from work to home. ... But please do not believe in all this. Believe what Mrs. Chowdhury says, "Globalization is a Myth", not a Fact.
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--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bd_mailer@...> wrote:
>
> In defence of Bangladeshi nationalism
>
> Political progression of nationalism in Bangladesh has outlived, and will continue to do so, Bengali nationalism that only caters to the Bengali-speaking Bangladeshis. This is because Bengali nationalism leaves no space for the minority non-Bengali speaking Bangladeshis in political participation,
> writes Tamina M Chowdhury
>
> NATIONALISM is dead. Or so it is argued by many in this globalised ‘post-territorial’ world. The forces of globalisation, it is said, have managed to create a phenomenon called post-nationalism in which nation-states and their national identities are slowly losing sway within their respective national borders and making way for globalism. So nationalism is often perceived as a dying ideology under globalisation where the idea of ‘global citizen’ is managing to override national sentiments within the territorial nation-states.
>    We are a modern nation, a nation of Bangladeshis. Although the rhetorical reference during our independence war highlighted Bengali nationalism, it was, in fact, a struggle to free all Bangladeshis from the then oppressive regime of West Pakistan. However, it was not until 1978 with the founding of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party under the leadership of the late president Ziaur Rahman that the sentiments and practices of Bangladeshi nationalism got its place in mainstream politics in Bangladesh. Zia’s principle philosophy of Bangladeshi nationalism was grounded in the idea that all citizens within the physical territory of Bangladesh, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, class, caste, language or gender, are all Bangladeshis and, therefore, entitled to equal political, social and economic entitlements. The nineteenth point in his 19-Point work plan states: ‘The rights of all citizens must be ensured irrespective of their ethnicity,
> religion, caste or creed, and thereby embed national unity and solidarity.’
>    By articulating this inclusive, pluralistic and egalitarian political thinking, Zia sought to refashion Bangladesh society through collectivism and laid down the nineteen-point work plan as the ideological foundation for Bangladeshi nationalism. Interestingly enough, a glance at his points today reveal the extent of his political aptitude and foresight as his philosophy has not only survived the test of time but also never been so pertinent to our social making than in today’s globalised world. However, we are yet to embody the ideology and spirit of ‘one Bangladeshi people’ unified under the rubric of Bangladeshi nationalism.
>    Nationalism has been a force for change in human history. However, there exists a general tendency to simplify nationalistic sentiments and see it as merely a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ thing. Historical development shows various kinds of nationalisms from pre-modern Europe to the contemporary time that are explained through varied theoretical frameworks namely primordialism, ethno-symbolic, modernist and post-modernist approaches. We have seen time and again how nationalisms are composed and applied within a diverse scope by the traditional thinking of various ideologies such as communism and socialism, to the liberals of the French Revolution, by the anti-colonialists in the global south, to Naser’s regional Arab nationalism, and even by the decades-old struggle against the apartheid in South Africa, which organised under the banner of African nationalism. All of these struggles were grounded in nationalistic sentiments, diverse as they were, and
> acted as an impetus for their respective nationalist movements. Therefore, it is important to note that nationalism and its many manifestations cannot be oversimplified or sidelined as a bygone or reflection of parochial politics, when in fact their diversity and complexities should be taken into consideration before undermining their concepts and practices.
>    At the heart of the discussions concerning nationalism, issues in nation, nation-state and nation building are at the forefront. Accordingly, Bangladeshi nationalism identifies all Bangladeshis as the ‘nation’ and Bangladesh as the ‘nation-state’ formed by the Bangladeshi nationals. Based on this ideological framework, we must seek to build and strengthen Bangladeshi nationalism as a mechanism to celebrate multiculturalism and at the same time unite the Bangladeshis as one people who share a common past, present and future.
>    However, globalisation raises a very persistent question: is nationalism passé? With the world economy integrating, the nation-state and nationalistic sentiments have come under increasing scrutiny. Some go as far as asserting that globalisation and marginalisation of the nation-state go hand in hand. Nonetheless, under the currents of globalisation, this taken-for-granted assumption, on close inspection, has become considerably more complex and contested. While it is correct to assume that globalisation and its advocacy of globalism have managed to realign territorialism, it is also a fact that territories and national boundaries still feature prominently in national and international politics. So it can be asserted that the currents of globalisation have not managed to permeate into the subtleties and nuances of being a Bangladeshi but instead, due to its increased liberal scrutiny, accentuated the diversity and pluralism that exists within the
> Bangladeshi society by bringing the previously marginalised groups in the limelight and eventually incorporating them in the decision-making process.
>    Globalism is still a myth and nationalism remains the central issue of the modern world. While it is true that trade liberalisation, information technology, and freer travel have managed to integrate the citizens of the world to an unprecedented level in a fairly short period of time, however, it is also a fact that the power dynamics and priorities of issues in global sphere have remained unchanged. We in the south are still waiting for a fair bargain in trade, aid and debt negotiations, and most importantly for our citizens to have access to the wealth we all participated in generating throughout the tides of time. As a corollary, the asymmetric relation between the north and south has fundamentally jeopardised our chances to become a global citizen as there remains an acute deficiency in the concept and practice of globalism. For instance, with the global financial crisis raging, we have witnessed the leaders of the rich countries resort to the
> unthinkable â€" economic nationalism and intervened through extra-market steps to protect their own industries and companies facing possible obliteration. The financial crisis has amplified the nationalistic sentiments of the west â€" the very envoys who have been downplaying it and promoting globalism to the rest of the world as a way to look beyond one’s national boundaries. Evidently, economic nationalism is still powerful, globalisation did not manage to weaken it neither in the East nor West. It is clear that under the current form of globalisation, citizens in developing countries are yet to be recognised and benefited in practical terms as global citizens.
>    While debating the issues in nationalism, one must acknowledge that politics is ultimately about maximisation of human freedom. Nonetheless, politics of nationalism, if exerted with malign intents, will succeed in spreading conflicts and un-freedoms. Needless to say, abuse of politics and nationalistic sentiments have manifested its dark side in histories of all continents and in many instances have only served the purpose of dividing people. And understandably, criticisms of nationalism are also plentiful. But what is often overlooked is that we â€" both in the north and south â€" continue to see ourselves through the lenses of our history and nation making, and more so under globalisation.
>    This reinforced identity is still very much part of our political being. The organic connection we all share with our fellow nationals is undeniable and therefore should be embraced as the ideology of Bangladeshi nationalism purports. As the great German thinker and economist Friedrich List once argued, ‘as the nation’s citizenry largely shares a common economic fate, the state has a role to nourish national productive powers. Hence, nationalism should guide the state’s economic policies.’
>    Bangladeshi nationalism calls for embracing national distinctiveness and, as the prevailing trend suggests, seeks to converge all Bangladeshis as one people with unified national interest. As an ideology it is best suited to address the aspirations of the people of this land and promote a more egalitarian and just society. Political progression of nationalism in Bangladesh has outlived, and will continue to do so, Bengali nationalism that only caters to the Bengali-speaking Bangladeshis. This is because Bengali nationalism leaves no space for the minority non-Bengali speaking Bangladeshis in political participation. The Bangladeshi nationalism’s stance on Bangladeshi-ism encompassing all ‘Bangladeshis’ stretching beyond the Bengali, religious, or ethnic makings is a comprehensive political outlook that by its very composition need not explicitly preach secularism as Bangladeshi nationalism already carries a built-in framework that ensures all
> Bangladeshis can exercise their religious beliefs as freely as the majority can.
>    The concept and practice of Bangladeshi nationalism is essential if we are to establish Bangladesh as a modern, cosmopolitan and tolerant society. In order for us to protect the interests of the multicultural Bangladeshi people and deliver their aspirations, Bangladeshi nationalism is the best political path for our country. We as a people must unify under the banner and with the vision of one Bangladeshi nation. In this era of globalisation, nationalism is proving to be an undying phenomenon in both the east and the west and is certainly in no hurry to diminish as previously perceived. Thus Bangladeshi nationalism as an ideology and practice must be defended and given institutional form to embed national unity and solidarity in our national life. After all, we are one people merely connoted as either Bengali-Bangladeshis, or Garo-Bangladeshis, or Chakma-Bangladeshis, or Bihari-Bangladeshis…Bangladeshis nonetheless.
>    Tamina M Chowdhury is a research associate/lecturer at the Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University
>  
> http://www.newagebd.com/2009/nov/02/oped.html
>

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