The concept of an overarching identity tied to one’s country was invented not by ancient poets or warriors but by 19th-century European governments. National identity’s rise, however, also turned minorities and migrants into second-class citizens — or even into perceived threats within. The world, unable to unwind a global order built on national identity, sought to manage its worst tendencies by promoting cultural pluralism, international integration and protections for minorities and migrants. These values did not so much replace national identity as sit uneasily alongside it, eventually leading to a backlash. The order also draws on a 2005 definition of anti-Semitism, one of whose authors has since said is overly broad, conflating hatred of Jews with criticism of Israel.

Source: International New York Times December 15, 2019 23:37 UTC