How inevitable is nationalism? (thread repost)

Well, the last thread got locked on account of getting hit by a crazy white nationalist troll; I don't think discussion in a useful direction was completely tapped out, so I'm reposting it.

While nationalism developed gradually throughout the 18th century, I think it is certainly possible to say that it was really the French Revolution which caused nationalism to "explode," and be further exported to all parts of Europe, thus ushering in its massive presence in politics and society for the next two centuries.

However, just how inevitable is the "rise of nationalism," unseating previous regional and personal loyalties? If the French revolution were to be butterflied, would that greatly reduce the influence and level of nationalism, or would that require much earlier PODs and possibly greater and deeper changes to historical trends in general? Around how far back would you have to go to completely kill the development of any form of linguistic, social, or ethnic nationalism (if this is at all possible)?

And finally, do you personally think that the development of nationalism as a political and social force was overall a good or bad thing?
 
I don't think it would be possibly to entirely eradicate all forms as long as you have organized societies - even "primitive" ones.

Overall a bad thing.

Nationalism is parochial by its nature at best, and see the attitudes in the years proceeding WWI at worst (nevermind fascism).

That's not to say local loyalties are all to the good, but anything that sees - and I'm picking this because I have a soft spot for Austria and the Habsburgs, though other polities can be used too - Franz Joseph be seen as less acceptable as a ruler of (what was then) Bohemia than anywhere else in his domain because of reasons other than his qualities as a ruler is a force fueling unjust conflict.

Especially when ethnicity as somehow relevant sneaks in. Ethnic nationalism is not about good government, it's xenophobic by its nature.
 
Nationalism has its advantages, it's the rise of nationalism that resulted in the decline of tribalism and other ethnic loyalties. There may have been more wars and bloodshed if not for nationalism. Humans by nature are looking to become a part of a larger group and nationalism provides that opportunity.

May be with time, Humanity would learn to pay less attention to the concept of nations and nationalism. But its unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.
 
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