Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-10-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Philosophy and Religion
First Advisor
Aaron Graham
Second Advisor
Steven Skultety
Third Advisor
Rankin Sherling
Relational Format
Thesis
Abstract
This thesis seeks to first provide an articulation of American nationality based on the five components outlined in David Miller’s book On Nationality. These components are Geographical Connection, Constitutive Belief, Public Culture, Active Identity, and Historical Continuity. In the case of American national identity, these components are satisfied by the founding documents meant to govern the United States as well as the sum of how citizens have interacted with these texts throughout history. Secondly, this thesis composes a defense from two widely known theories of political thought that I believe violate the articulated American nationality. These views are labeled as Conservative Nationalism and Radical Multiculturalism and are found on opposite ends of the United States political spectrum. Through reading Miller’s description of these views and researching current examples, I found that the principles of Conservative Nationalism violate America’s Constitutive Belief, Public Culture, and Active Identity due to their beliefs regarding tradition and the part religion played in the founding of America. Radical Multiculturalism violates Constitutive Belief, Public Culture and Historical Continuity because of the importance the view gives to identity politics and the current preference it gives to past cases of oppression. It is because of these violations that I believe neither Conservative Nationalism nor Radical Multiculturalism supports the articulated American nationality. The growing popularity surrounding these views only continues to lead to less understanding of American nationality and more division within the United States.
Recommended Citation
White, Clara E., "An Articulation and Defense of American Nationality" (2025). Honors Theses. 3319.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3319
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