A Nationalist World? A Post-Nationalist World? An Internationalist…

This week, we discussed the difference between nationalism, post-nationalism, internationalism, and transnationalism.  One thing that seemed to lack from that classroom discussion, though, is which ideology our contemporary world most resembles.  Super optimists would likely say we live in a transnational world, driven mainly by the internet.  No one will dispute the importance of the internet, but optimists to a slightly lesser degree will claim we live more in a post-nationalist world, and that, again, primarily through the internet and globalization, the concept of the individual nation has become less important, but the expansion outward hasn’t been fully completed.  A pessimist would argue that nationalism still exists, and use current affairs and events such as Pakistan and India, or Switzerland’s ban on minarets as an example.  I personally feel that our world can currently be best described as international.  Nations still play a key role, and nationalism is still very present in many forms (see Pakistan – involvement in Afghanistan, or pins, flag), yet the rest of the world is also becoming crucially important.  It is very important to have a broader view and to understand other nations and their cultures.  Yet most people today still identify themselves primarily with a national identity (though there is certainly a considerable minority that will use an ethnic identity).  The world is currently in a state where you need to be able to understand and work with other national cultures, but those are all viewed through your own national perspective, and your own personal national identity is still paramount.  This is just my opinion, I may be sort of right, or very very wrong (and I doubt anywhere in between, or beyond those), so let me know what you think…