Economic Aspects of Cultural Diversification

Abstract

In nineteenth-century Germany, nationalist ideas strongly influenced large parts of politics and “state sciences”, of which this study is proof. However, there are many types of nationalism. Since the collapse of the Soviet system, the world has been confronted with various manifestations of it. It has become clear that not all of its forms have a positive effect on the stability and efficiency of the institutional system. The effect is negative if nationalism suppresses all criticism of the nation’s own habits and customs, and if it enforces antagonism with neighbouring states and minorities within its own borders. However, if it focusses in a critical way on improvement of the culture of its own state and is based on respect for the other man’s way of life, the effect is positive.