Political actors use national identity to rally support by presenting citizens as members of a shared community with common values, history and interests. They then claim that supporting a leader, party or policy will protect that community from threats or restore its status.
This belongs to the Identity topic area in the Higher Level extension and connects to power, legitimacy and sovereignty.
| Mechanism | How it mobilizes support | Contemporary example |
|---|---|---|
| Creating an in-group | Shared language, religion, history and symbols generate belonging and loyalty. | India’s Bharatiya Janata Party promoted Hindu nationalism in the 2019 election; it won of elected Lok Sabha seats. |
| Framing an external threat | Leaders argue that unity is necessary for security. | After Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized an inclusive Ukrainian civic identity, mobilizing resistance across linguistic and regional differences. |
| Restoring sovereignty | Campaigns connect identity to control over laws, territory or borders. | The United Kingdom’s 2016 Leave campaign used “Take Back Control,” linking British identity and parliamentary sovereignty to leaving the European Union; Leave won . |