Information AboutChauvinism |
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The origin and early usage indicate that ''chauvinisme'' was coined to describe excessive Nationalism or Patriotism , and the original French term retains this meaning today. An equivalent English term is Jingoism . The term entered public use due to a Satirical treatment of Chauvin in the French Play ''La Cocarde Tricolore'' (The Tricolore Cockade ). Chauvinism as nationalism In "Imperialism, Nationalism, Chauvinism", in ''The Review of Politics'' 7.4, (October 1945), p. 457, Hannah Arendt describes the concept: :Chauvinism is an almost natural product of the national concept insofar as it springs directly from the old idea of the "national mission." ... (A) nation's mission might be interpreted precisely as bringing its light to other, less fortunate peoples that, for whatever reason, have miraculously been left by history without a national mission. As long as this concept did not develop into the ideology of chauvinism and remained in the rather vague realm of national or even nationalistic pride, it frequently resulted in a high sense of responsibility for the welfare of backward peoples. (See, for example, White Man's Burden .) The word does not require a judgment that the chauvinist is right or wrong in his opinion, only that he is blind and unreasoning in coming to it, ignoring any facts which might temper his fervor. In modern use, however, it is often used pejoratively to imply that the chauvinist is both unreasoning and wrong. See also
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