What might be the social consequences of an ethnic as opposed to a civic conception of the nation?
Last Updated: 16.06.2025 17:28
Nazi Germany was an ethnic state. Modern Japan is too, in practice though not in theory.
In the case of Germany, non Germans were persecuted. At first this was restricted to bad Germans, the communists, the drunks, transvestites, gays, sex workers, the chronically unemployed, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and union leaders. Then they killed off disabled children, a set of ‘worthless’ Germans. Then they persecuted Gypsies, Poles, Slavs - and Jews, no matter how long their German family tree was. Nazi Germany was absolutely crazy.
Japan isn’t anything like this. Nevertheless the Japanese, a gifted people, are introverted as a nation and are extremely private. They really dislike the idea of substantial immigration because they are dedicated to preserving their ancient and colorful traditions. The culture is insular but at the same time the Japanese love novelty, which prevents them from stagnating. Japan is a civic nation.