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Third chapter «The nation»

A nation is the national political “umbrella” for individuals; it is far wider than the social “umbrella” provided by a tribe for its members. Tribalism undermines national identity because tribal loyalty weakens national loyalty and is maintained at its expense. In the same way, family loyalty weakens tribal loyalty and is maintained at its expense. And in so much as nationalist fanaticism is essential to a nation, it is at the same time a threat to humanity. A nation in the international community is similar to a family in the tribe. The more partisan sentiments and internecine feuds afflict families of a single tribe, the more threatened the tribe becomes. A family is also threatened when its individual members feud and pursue only their personal interests. Similarly a nation is also threatened if partisan sentiments and internecine feuds erupt among its tribes. Nationalist fanaticism and the use of national force against a weaker nation, or national prosperity attained by a nation as result of overpowering another, is evil and detrimental to humanity. However, a strong individual, aware of his own responsibilities is important and an advantage to his family; a solid, self-respecting family, aware of its significance, is socially and materially an advantage to the tribe; and the civilized, well-advanced and productive nation, is in turn, beneficial to the whole world. Nevertheless, the national and political structure is corrupted if it were to stoop down to the social level, i.e. the familial and tribal levels, to interact with, and be influenced by their particular considerations. A nation is a large extended family that passed through the tribal stage - the tribe, then a plurality of tribes, that have branched out from one common source. It also includes members who affiliated themselves with its destiny. The family likewise grows into a nation after going through the tribal stage from which it branches out into a further stage, the melting pot of commingling between various communities in society. This is a very slow but inevitable social evolution. Nevertheless, as new nations emerge with the passage of time, so old nations disintegrate. Common origin and common destiny, through affiliation, are the two historic bases for of any nation, though origin is the primary and affiliation comes second. A nation is not only an entity defined by its origin. It is also an entity that evolved from the accumulation of historical human activity to become the homeland for the multitudes who make its particular history, singular heritage and face a common destiny. Therefore, regardless of the blood tie, a nation, in the final analysis, is formed through a sense of belonging and a shared destiny. But why has the world map witnessed the emergence and disappearance of great powers and the emergence and disappearance of other states? Is the reason political and unrelated to the social cornerstone of the Third Universal Theory or is it social and therefore relevant to the concerns of this part of The Green Book? Let us see. The fact that the family is a social and not political entity is an irrefutable truth. The tribe too is a social entity because it was originally a family that procreated and multiplied into subdivisions, then expanded into clans, which eventually transformed into many other tribes. As such, a nation is a social entity whose people are bound by national identity, and the tribe is a social entity whose members are bound by tribal ties, and the family is also a social entity whose members are bound by familial bonds, and the nations of the world constitute a social entity bound by the bonds of humanity. These facts are all self-evident. There is then the political structure of state that forms the political map of the world. But why should changes occur in this world map from one era to another? The reason has to do with the political structure and whether or not it conforms to the social structure of the state. When the political structure is in conformity with the social structure of a nation it endures and does not change. When it changes or declines as a result of colonial domination it re-emerges eventually as a result of national struggle, national awakening or national unity. When a political structure comprises more than one nation then the map of the state is ripped apart as each nation obtains its separate national independence. Such was the fate of past empires because they were comprised of many nations that were awakened and driven by nationalist sentiments to demand their independence. Thus political empires were ripped apart, and the nations reverted to their original social structures. The evidence is clearly there for examination through history. But why are empires formed of several nations? The answer to this is found in the structure of the state that is not a social structure like the family, the tribe or the nation. Rather the state is a political entity created by several factors, the simplest and foremost of which is national identity. The national state is the only political structure in keeping with the natural social structure. Moreover, it is this state that endures, unless it is subjected to the tyranny of another more powerful nation, or its political structure as a state is affected by its social structure in the form of tribes, clans or families. When subjected to and influenced by a familial, tribal or sectarian social structure, the political formation of the state becomes corrupted. Religious, economic and military factors also contribute to form a state that differs from the basic national state. A common religion may create a state that embraces several nations. Economic imperatives and military conquests may do the same. Thus the world can witness the existence of a state or empire in one particular historical period, but then witnesses its fall and disappearance in another. When the spirit of nationalism is more powerful than the religious spirit, conflict intensifies among the various nationalities bound by the ties of one religion. Such conflicts eventually culminate in the independence of each nation that reverts to its own social structure and the empire finally disappears. Religion resurfaces when the religious spirit emerges stronger than the spirit of nationalism. Consequently the various nationalities eventually unite under the banner of religion until the time when once again the national factor again overrides the religious factor. All states made up of diverse nationalities for religious, economic, military or ideological reasons will eventually be ripped apart by national conflict until every nationality gains its independence. The social factor will inevitably triumph over the political factor. Despite the political imperatives which necessitate the establishment of the state, the family remains first and foremost the basis of the life of individuals extending then to the tribe, then to the nation and finally, to all humanity. The social factor is the basic and constant factor. It is imperative to concentrate on the social reality by first attending to the family in order that the normal, well-bred individual may emerge, then moving on to the tribe, as a “social umbrella” and a natural social school which further educates the individual raised by his family, and finally, to the nation. This plan is necessary as it stems from the need for individuals to learn the worth of social values from both family and tribe, the two naturally formed social structures which evolve without the deliberate interference of man. The social factor, i.e. the national factor, is the real and constant driving force of history. To disregard the social bond of human communities, and to establish a political system counter to social reality is to create a temporary structure which will collapse because of the movement of the social factor i.e. the national. These are not interpretations of concepts; they are all facts in the life of mankind. Every individual should recognise these so that his or her actions may be worthwhile. To avoid deviation, disorder and corruption in the life of human groups that are a result of lack of understanding and respect of the principles of human life, it is essential to know these confirmed truths.

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