Nations are composed of large populations living within definable borders, sharing common governance, aims, and interests, often splintering humanity into massive interest groups with distinct ideas of what is best for themselves. As Lord Palmerston articulated in 1848, national interests are eternal and perpetual, compelling nations to prioritize their own needs over alliances or enmities. Despite historical attempts at global unity, from ancient empires to modern initiatives like the United Nations, national interests consistently fracture international cooperation. In the current era, globalism faces challenges as economic crises and foreign policy maneuvers reveal the fragility of international systems. During the recent credit crisis, even within the European Union, individual nations acted to protect their own financial institutions, splintering along nationalistic lines. In foreign policy, nationalism resurfaces with Russia's aggressive actions, such as the invasion of Georgia and alliances with Venezuela and Cuba, defying U.S. dominance while other powers like Iran, India, and China assert their autonomy, pushing the world toward a multi-polar, potentially confrontational configuration.

Nationalism, as discussed by Samuel P. Huntington, stands in stark contrast to cosmopolitanism in shaping America's national identity. It represents a deep-rooted identification with one's nation of birth, emphasizing the importance of national sovereignty in policymaking. Unlike the cosmopolitan view that transcends borders and embraces a global citizenry, nationalism prioritizes a distinct American self-portrait, influencing both domestic and foreign policies. This perspective holds that who Americans believe themselves to be is central to their laws and societal structure, fostering a sense of patriotism that counters the transnationalist inclination to dilute national boundaries.

The idea of a unified Europe has long been driven by the belief that nationalism poses the greatest threat to European life and wealth. The hope was that closer integration of nations would generate peace and prosperity by creating economic incentives to work together and end intra-European wars. However, the policies of the European Central Bank and Brussels bureaucrats, intended to move Europe away from nationalism, often reinforce it by favoring some nations over others through interest rates and subsidies. A key motivation for the European Union was to bind Germany so tightly that it could not become aggressive again, yet Germany has emerged as the dominant economic and political force, shaping the EU to its advantage. The financial crisis has exposed the stubborn reality that sovereign nations have fundamentally different interests, leading to a resurgence of nationalism. This has put the grand dream of European unity on indefinite hold, raising questions about how divided Europe will become.