Comparative Analysis of Theoretical Views on the Role of Nationalism in Socio-Political Processes

The article presents an analysis of various concepts of nationalism as a socio-political phenomenon. The variety of approaches to understanding the phenomenon of nationalism indicates the absence of a single universal theory. An attempt has been made to consider the rather complex problems of the nation and nationalism, based on the most influential concepts. The main attention is paid to the key theories of the nation and nationalism that developed in the 20th century. According to the main methods of research and analysis of the problems of nationalism, the following areas of research can be distinguished. First of all, primordialism, which substantiates the uniqueness of the phenomenon of nationalism. The communicative direction considers nationalism as the main tool for the modernization of traditional society. Constructivist theories view nations and nationalism as the result of purposeful activity. The nation, according to constructivism, is an artificial social entity. From the point of view of functionalists, the origin and development of nationalism is associated with the implementation of a certain social function. Representatives of functionalism see the main task of nationalism in ensuring the stability of social processes. The formation of nationalism is associated with the modernization of society, the emergence of compulsory education and common cultural values. The analysis carried out allowed the authors to conclude that these approaches can be the basis for researching the phenomenon of nationalism and developing practical methods for solving problems in the field of national policy in a multi-ethnic state.