‘Patriotism over nationalism’

An international conference on “Revisiting International Relations: Critical Reflections on 100 Years” concluded yesterday at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban Auditorium of Dhaka University.

Delivering the valedictorian speech, Dr Ashis Nandy, fellow of Centre for the Study of Developing Societies spoke about genocide, massive brutalisation of minorities, and nationalism.

“Genocide is not only about how many people were killed, it is also about what brutality the people faced,” he said.

Nandy, a political psychologist, social theorist and critic, also drew distinctions between nationalism and patriotism.

“Patriotism is sentimental; nationalism is an ideology... Tagore wrote over 200 poems imbued with the spirit of patriotism but rejected nationalism,” he said.

DU’s International Relations department organised this conference.

Addressing the session, former Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque said the Rohingya crisis gave the state a chance to see who is a friend and who is not.