Is Nationalism Still a Solution?

In the last decade, also due to the explosion of social media, the identity politics are more visible and vocal than ever. But was it any different or it is only the power of the media which outlines the rapid and sometimes aggressive changes focused on the national redesigned and reinterpreted values and the exclusion of the other? He hear and read not with pleasure about Orban Viktor and the German AfD, but at what extent it is possible to separate the new from the old nationalist elements from the public discourse?

I personally think that there are always some old layers of mentality concept which lay the basis for new interpretations and evaluations, which are circumstantial and possibly in a decade or two becoming the basis for a new conceptual shift. I avoid to hurry up and say if it is good or not to have such identity politics present into the public discourse, but there are obviously some clear limits about what the public discourse should reject as part of the identity politics. For instance, the insistence of AfD politicians in minimizing the Holocaust or the increasing presence of statues of the pro-Nazi Admiral Horthy during the repeated governments headed by Orban Viktor shall be definitely rejected.

John B. Judis is relatively rapidly overviewing the last century of nationalism and the relative failures of creating and enforcing of a European identity which goes beyond the economic and social advantages as well as the current populist outburst in the time of Trump's America. One of the conclusions is that the revival of nationalism is a move forward from the 'illusions and excesses of globalization'. In his opinion, the 'challenge that will determine the future over the reminder of this century' is a 'new international order' that 'acknowledges and doesn't sidestep or discount historic nationalist sentiments'. 

At a certain extent, it is an easy to reach conclusion because, obviously, nationalism is alive and kicking all over the world, but not necessarily as a reaction to globalization. The Russian nationalism always had a global approach, for instance, and elements of the Polish nationalist discourse reiterates elements which historically are at least 2 centuries old. The Austrian nationalism deserves a study in itself and was completely ignored by the author. The Scottish nationalism - also not mentioned - is going through a new stage, with a European - global - approach a couple of steps ahead of the isolationist Brexit mindset. 

The book uses a minimal theoretical apparatus and is jumping too fast to the conclusion, which is nevertheless vague and non-involving. 

I completely agree that there is necessary a most serious consideration of the nationalist/identity policies, including a revision of the theoretical approach, but it should be done with more consideration for details and elaborated explanations. Otherwise, I am completely interested to figure out more discussions and details both based on events and elaborated new and old theories.

Rating: 3 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Gender Gap in Academia

You don't need to browse too many studies and advanced researches to realize that from the very beginning, single mothers start they academic life with a significant disadvantage compared to their male counterparts. Regardless how generous their home country social system is, a single woman will always cope with disadvantages and discrimination, and keeping the pace with the other colleagues - male especially, is a ride which starts from a disadvantageous perspective from the very first start. When it comes to academia, the struggle is getting even more complicated, for reasons that I will further explain.

In order to keep yourself from drowning in the academic world, you need to become obsessed with published articles in academic publications, teach as many classes as possible and also add every year a couple of conferences to your portfolio. Reading the latest academic results in your domain of activity and also writing moderately - but firmly - fast your next book is also a priority. Nowadays also social media and shaping your voice as an academic influencer matters. As the official - state - funding of an university is always scarce, applying for grants and always being aware of various financial opportunities is important. Add to this also applying for different scholarships and residences which may diversify the contacts, knowledge and academic opportunities.

However, when you are a single mother, balancing those exhausting activities that keep you late at night and wake you early in the day, are competing with the priority of keeping your child feed, clean, ready for school, perfectly fit to become an independent adult, healthy, but also entertained. When kids are screaming happily in your house playing the Indians, how can you easily focus on your next teaching plan or edit your chapter? And besides your health, you need money and insurances paid in time and many other bills to be paid. Indeed, also people with high qualifications and education might do once in a while the mistake of dealing emotionally with jerks. 

What happens often in such stressful situations is that the academic single mother might decide to take a break from academia, do one or two or even three jobs more rewarding financially and not necessarily within your academic field - but someone who is overqualified academically can easily adapt to the competitive business domain as well. Time is passing, you write less and read the latest reports from your field even less. Not time for conferences or other academic gatherings, as you don't have time to go to library or afford to spend one night reading. 

In the next 2-3 years there is no new title and new activity added to your academic CV. Sooner, you see how former colleagues are getting tenures and publishing new books, and you are happy with your stable world, where bills are paid and your child is happy, but sadly, you feel like you wasted your talents and chances only because it might happen to be in the wrong relationship. 

Of course that there is not always happening so tragically and it could be that you are energetic and ambitious enough to keep yourself on the swimming line of academia, although juggling with other jobs - this writer here, is an example. But at the end of the day, you will feel at least 10 times more worn out than your relaxed colleague which is only unhappy that the editing of the last chapter didn't turn out as expected.

Things are made this way and the system is created in a way which does not offer too much generosity to the outbreakers and people which cope with some special - sometimes at the limit of survival - situations. At the end of the day, you simply might feel guilty that you made once that wrong choice and now you have to pay not only with your time, money and health, but also with your career. 

It is not easy and coaching and support for those women who are fighting hard not only to survive, but also to outperform, is not easy. But it is doable and it is worth every single effort. Also, to prove that at the end of the day a life dedicated to the world of mind can succeed over adversities, be it social or gender-based.