The hottest National Identity Substack posts right now

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The Palestinian cause is a violent ideology disguised as a national identity, and it must be swept into the dustbin of history

The Dossier • 209 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. The Palestinian cause is seen as an ideology rather than a true national identity, similar to other violent movements in history. It doesn't have a unique cultural or ethnic background.
  2. Support for violent actions against Israel is widespread among Palestinians, reflecting a deeper ideological commitment rather than just reactions to specific events.
  3. Some suggest relocating Gazans to other Arab countries after conflicts, arguing it's a way to address the violence and instability that often follows their actions.

the american order

bad cattitude • 222 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. A constitution is just a set of rules on paper. For it to matter, people need to truly believe in and practice its ideas.
  2. America is not just an idea or a place; it's a specific way of life that includes values and expectations that have allowed people to flourish.
  3. We need to be careful about how we defend American values. Fighting for them shouldn't go against the very principles we believe in and should not lead to treating newcomers poorly.

America isn't an idea, Americans have ideals.

Indian Bronson • 12 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. America is both an ethnic nation with historical roots and a civic republic built on shared ideals, and both of those identities meaningfully shape who Americans are.
  2. Deciding who counts as an American isn’t just legal paperwork — it’s about cultural assimilation, loyalty, and shared civic commitments. Those debates directly affect policy on immigration, citizenship, and political participation.
  3. Large demographic shifts toward a majority non‑white population will test whether American civic ideals can hold without clearer boundaries. If identity questions aren’t addressed openly, the result could be political instability or domination by more cohesive groups.

10 Ways to Think About America

European Straits • 14 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. America is seen as the final destination for both people and capital. People move there with the intent to stay, and foreign money flows into the U.S. seeking good investment opportunities.
  2. The combination of attracting talented individuals and capital helps foster a strong environment for innovation. The U.S. becomes a place where new ideas are created and businesses are started.
  3. Despite its strength in innovation, America faces challenges in turning ideas into physical products. The financial system and the dollar's status can limit the country's ability to expand manufacturing.

Migration and the sovereign firm

Gray Mirror • 189 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. The relationship between a state and its citizens can be viewed in terms of ownership, where the state should safeguard and nurture its people as valuable assets. This perspective contrasts with the modern belief that the state exists to serve its citizens.
  2. Free movement of labor may negatively impact local human capital by creating job competition that reduces job quality for some citizens, affecting their value and contribution to society.
  3. Mass migration policies are often motivated by corporate interests and political goals rather than a genuine need to develop local talent or improve society, leading to ineffective and exploitative outcomes.
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An American Optimism

Investing 101 • 64 implied HN points • 05 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. The United States has a history of striving for improvement and self-correction, which makes it unique compared to other powerful nations. It's not perfect, but it continues to work towards being better.
  2. Despite its flaws, the US has created a system that allows for protest and reform, which shows a commitment to acknowledging and addressing its wrongs over time.
  3. Many people today feel ashamed of America, but there is still a lot of potential for positive change and development, which should inspire hope.

Reflections on Scotland's Political Culture (1/4)

The Joyous Struggle • 118 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics National Identity
  1. Metapolitical thinking involves questioning and renewing our political premises and motivations as contexts change.
  2. In times of instability and transition, unity in politics can falter, leading to disagreements without common ground and a loss of shared reality.
  3. The concept of nationhood is both significant and arbitrary, urging us to understand our political and metapolitical perspectives to navigate global challenges.

National Myths Old and New

Castalia • 159 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. There are two main stories about America's past: one celebrates its founding and achievements, while the other highlights its flaws like slavery and injustice. People seem to be divided between these two views.
  2. A new generation sees America's past as something that can be redeemed through acknowledging past wrongs and offering reparations. This idea focuses on healing and addressing the trauma of oppressed groups.
  3. America's role in the world is important, too. Instead of just looking at what happened inside the country, it's vital to recognize how it protects allies and maintains a certain type of order internationally, which can also shape positive patriotism.

neomedievalism and transnational nobility

alice maz • 110 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. States are losing power, and people are looking for new groups or identities to connect with. This means loyalty might shift from the nation-state to other forms of community and personal connections.
  2. With the rise of technology and the internet, individuals can now create and spread information themselves, changing how we communicate and come together. This new way could challenge governments and traditional authorities.
  3. People are moving away from the idea of absolute loyalty to one nation and are searching for shared purpose and community. In the future, we might form groups based on interests or beliefs instead of just nationality.

The game of gastrodiplomacy

Vittles • 287 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink National Identity
  1. Governments use food to influence and market their countries, known as gastrodiplomacy.
  2. Gastrodiplomacy involves promoting national cuisine to foreign audiences to showcase national identity.
  3. Gastrodiplomacy can be a subtle form of resistance against nationalist powers, emphasizing cultural identity through cuisine.

Microdosed Trainspotting: Buying Painkillers in the UK vs the US (24/30)

psychotechnology • 8 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture National Identity
  1. The US market lets you buy huge quantities of OTC ibuprofen, whereas UK rules limit NSAID pack sizes and how much you can buy at once.
  2. The UK sells low-dose codeine combination products over the counter, giving people legal, mild opioid access that is not available OTC in the US.
  3. Mixing or megadosing those combination pills is dangerous because of paracetamol and ibuprofen toxicity, and some people attempt risky methods like cold-water extraction to isolate codeine.

America Is a Normal Country

KERFUFFLE • 55 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. America is no longer viewed as a unique or exceptional country compared to others. Instead, it shares many common challenges with other nations.
  2. The U.S. has a history of military interventions that often led to problems rather than solutions, making some wonder if inaction might have been better.
  3. Despite past dominance after World War II, America is now seen as an empire in decline, and it's important to recognize and adapt to this reality.

Making Civic Life Thick Again; Rashid Khalidi in Haaretz; Remembering Canarsie

Unpopular Front • 29 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. Political parties need to focus on building stronger local organizations to reconnect with working-class voters. This means creating spaces where people can gather and engage in civic life together.
  2. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complex and cannot be solved easily. Understanding both sides and their histories is crucial to discussing potential solutions.
  3. Using violent tactics in political struggles can backfire, especially when the opposing side feels victimized. It's important to think about the long-term effects of such strategies.

The Mythic Rebellion: Why The Far Right Keeps Winning

The Bigger Picture • 2 HN points • 19 Jun 24
🌍 World Politics National Identity
  1. In Europe, the far right is gaining ground due to frustrations with technocratic institutions and the perception of multiculturalism as threatening traditional culture and identity.
  2. Immigration is a politically charged topic in Europe and the US due to differing cultural attitudes towards trust, individualism, and social networks.
  3. Collective grief and rituals are suggested as a way to address cultural wounds, honor identities, and navigate the complexities of multiculturalism and monoculturalism in Western societies.

November 19, 2024 (Tuesday)

Letters from an American • 25 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. The Battle of Gettysburg was a major event in the American Civil War, involving around 150,000 soldiers and resulting in thousands of deaths.
  2. President Lincoln gave a short but powerful speech at the dedication of a national cemetery, emphasizing equality and the need for a 'new birth of freedom.'
  3. Lincoln's address highlighted the importance of honoring those who died and urged the living to continue fighting for democracy and equality.

The Trad Marxism of George Grant

From the New World • 10 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. George Grant believed that Canada was heavily influenced by America, almost like a smaller country serving a larger one. He thought this relationship made Canada lose some of its national identity.
  2. He criticized the wealthy elites in Canada who were more focused on American business than the needs of their own citizens. This created a divide between the rich and the rural areas.
  3. Grant warned that without a strong central authority, countries could lose their national character. His ideas seem even more relevant today with the rise of global influences like the internet.

Make America Greater Than Ever!

Gideon's Substack • 9 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Identity
  1. The biggest divide in America is not political, but rather between those who fear the future and those who see it as an opportunity. This divide affects both major political parties.
  2. A proposal is made for significant territorial expansion to accommodate a growing population, aiming to increase the U.S. population to 1 billion people while reducing overall density.
  3. Various phases are outlined for acquiring territories, suggesting that each new territory will provide strategic advantages, resources, and help the U.S. establish a stronger global presence.

'Brahmin Hitler' responds to Richard Hanania

Indian Bronson • 8 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics National Identity
  1. The author discusses the responses of 'Brahmin Hitler' to Richard Hanania, mentioning their differing views on immigration and racial dynamics.
  2. There is a comparison between Richard Spencer and Richard Hanania, highlighting their individual transformations and disavowals of certain ideologies.
  3. The text delves into the evolving perspectives of Richard Hanania, his critiques of conservatism, and his concerns about being associated with certain groups.

A Brasilian On The Moon

Square Circle • 7 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture National Identity
  1. Brazil tried to build a rocket but faced a major disaster
  2. Brazil's space program was underfunded compared to other countries like India and Japan
  3. Brazil's strong cultural aspects like samba and engineering may not align, but the country has potential

Lãnh đạo vs hoa hậu

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 16
🎭️ Culture National Identity
  1. Short-term solution: Crown beauty pageants as leaders. Beauty queens are talented, fluent in English, and adored by the nation, making them suitable leaders.
  2. Long-term solution: Crown leaders as beauty queens. Our leaders possess qualities similar to beauty queens, so why not have them compete in beauty pageants?
  3. Proposed future competitions: Consider organizing secretary competitions, showcasing individuals from various sectors and backgrounds to represent the nation's diversity.