Patriotism And Nationalism Are Not Identical

Political philosophers and historians have long distinguished patriotism from nationalism. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, patriotism generally refers to attachment and commitment to one's country and the common good, whereas nationalism is often associated with loyalty to a particular national identity and can include beliefs about superiority or exclusion.

Similarly, scholars writing in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy note that both patriotism and nationalism involve love and identification with a collective entity, but patriotism centers on one's country, while nationalism often centers on a particular conception of nationhood or cultural identity. In practice, however, the distinction is rarely clear-cut. Most people do not walk around identifying themselves as either patriots or nationalists. Instead, they interpret national pride through their own values, experiences, and beliefs about what the country represents.

A Decline In National Pride

At the same time that debates about patriotism have intensified, measures of national pride have declined. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, only 58% of U.S. adults reported being "extremely" or "very" proud to be American in 2025, the lowest level recorded since the organization began asking the question. The decline appears particularly pronounced among younger Americans.

The findings suggest that while many Americans continue to feel connected to their country, they may be experiencing that connection differently than previous generations. The question is no longer simply whether Americans love their country. The question now appears to be how they define that love.

Can Criticism Be Patriotic?

One of the most contentious aspects of the patriotism debate centers on criticism. For some, public criticism of the nation can feel disloyal or disrespectful. For others, criticism is precisely what patriotism requires. This tension is not new.

Throughout American history, movements for civil rights, labor protections, women's rights, disability rights, and other social reforms have often been driven by individuals who argued that the nation was failing to live up to its stated ideals. `Their criticism was not necessarily rooted in rejection of the country but in a belief that the country could do better. This perspective suggests that patriotism may involve more than celebration. It may also involve accountability.

The Psychology Of National Identity

Political scientists and social identity researchers have long argued that national identity is more than a political preference. It is often woven into an individual's sense of self. Research grounded in social identity theory suggests that people frequently incorporate national attachment into their personal identity, which helps explain why debates about patriotism can feel deeply emotional rather than purely intellectual.

Moreover, political scientist and national identity scholar David Miller, argues that shared national identity helps motivate citizens toward collective goals, including social justice and democratic participation. His work suggests that national identity is not merely symbolic; it becomes part of how people understand themselves and their obligations to others. That said, identity can also become intertwined with politics, culture, religion, race, geography, and ideology.

In other words, national attachment can function as a form of social identity in which meaning people often incorporate their nation into their sense of self. So, when national identity becomes intertwined with politics, religion, race, culture, or geography, criticism of the nation can feel less like a disagreement about policy and more like a challenge to one's identity. What one person experiences as constructive critique, another may experience as a personal attack.

When Patriotism Becomes Nationalism

Many scholars argue that patriotism and nationalism overlap but diverge in important ways. Philosopher Igor Primoratz distinguishes patriotism from more exclusionary forms of national attachment, arguing that patriotism involves "a special concern for one’s country's well-being" rather than an aggressive or exclusive concern for national superiority. A similar distinction was made by George Orwell, who famously wrote that patriotism is rooted in devotion, whereas nationalism becomes focused on status, competition, and power.

Research published in 2024 in the Journal of Political Ideologies similarly describes patriotism as being associated with commitment to democratic ideals and community, while nationalism is often conceptualized as a more exclusionary and uncritical attachment to the nation. Viewed through this lens, patriotism allows room for reflection and criticism because its ultimate goal is the nation's improvement. Nationalism, by contrast, can begin to emerge when loyalty becomes more important than accountability and criticism is viewed primarily as a threat rather than a contribution. Again, these are ideal types. Most people likely hold elements of both.

What Americans Are Really Debating

The patriotism-versus-nationalism debate is often presented as a political disagreement. In reality, it may be something deeper. Americans are debating whether love requires affirmation or honesty.

We generally accept that healthy relationships involve both affection and accountability. We understand that loving a spouse, child, friend, or family member does not require pretending they are perfect. Yet many people remain divided over whether the same principle applies to nations.

Can someone criticize America while loving it deeply? Can someone be proud of America while acknowledging its failures? Can patriotism include both gratitude and critique? Increasingly, Americans appear to be answering those questions in different ways, and that disagreement may reveal less about politics than it does about how people understand loyalty, belonging, and love itself.