Japanese internment camps, wasted energy on McCarthyist witch hunts, Nazi concentration camps, and futile wars are all excellent examples of how patriotism can undermine national power.
Patriotism is an emotion. Emotional decision making can help avoid debates that lead to inaction, but it can also enable horrendously stupid decisions.
It's not clear to me that overbearing patriotism in the general population is a net benefit to a democratic superpower.
Patriotism is an emotion. Emotional decision making can help avoid debates that lead to inaction, but it can also enable horrendously stupid decisions.
It's not clear to me that overbearing patriotism in the general population is a net benefit to a democratic superpower.