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Patriotism denotes positive and supportive attitudes to a 'fatherland' (
Latin patria <
Greek patrida, πατρίδα), by individuals and groups. The 'fatherland' (or 'motherland') can be a region or a city, but patriotism usually applies to a
nation and/or a
nation-state. Patriotism covers such attitudes as: pride in its achievements and culture, the desire to preserve its character and the basis of the culture, and identification with other members of the nation. Patriotism is closely associated with
nationalism, and is often used as a
synonym for it. Strictly speaking, nationalism is an
ideology - but it often promotes patriotic attitudes as desirable and appropriate. (Both nationalist
political movements, and patriotic expression, may be negative towards other people's 'fatherland').
Patriotism has ethical connotations: it implies that the 'fatherland' (however defined) is a moral standard or moral value in itself. The expression
my country right or wrong - perhaps a misquotation of the American naval officer
Stephen Decatur, but also attributed to
Carl Schurz - is the extreme form of this belief. Patriotism also implies that the individual should place the interests of the nation above their personal and group interests. In
wartime, the sacrifice may extend to their own life. Death in battle for the fatherland is the
archetype of extreme patriotism.
