Ethnonationalism and Liberal Democracy

Abstract:     
Some scholars argue that liberal democracy precludes the state from adopting a particularistic ethnonational identity. In their view, Israel is unique among contemporary nation-states because it allows its particularistic Jewish identity to trump principles of universalism and equality on which liberal democracy supposedly rests. This Article argues that ethnonationalism remains a common and accepted feature of liberal democracy that is consistent with current state practice and international law. Democratic states implement “laws of return” that privilege the immigration and citizenship of particular ethnic groups. Liberal democracies also promote the welfare of their coethnics living abroad and maintain political ties to diasporic ethnonational communities. In fact, such practices are becoming more common as globalization disrupts the coincidence of ethnic demography and political boundaries. International law and practice confirm that a sovereign democratic government may represent a particular ethnonational community. Far from being unique, the experience of Israel exemplifies the character of liberal democracy by highlighting its dependence on particularistic nation-states.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 66

Keywords: ethnonationalism, nationalism, ethnicity, democracy, liberalism, comparative law, international law, Zionism, Hannah Arendt, Pierre Manent, Tony Judt

Accepted Paper Series