National identity is considered as a part of the social identity of an individual and as a collective phenomenon that unites people into national groups. National identity is a collective self-determination, identification with a group, acceptance of its concept of enduring characteristics and basic values, its institutions and traditions, past history, and current goals (Carvalho et al. 315). National identity is the result of both the ethnic history and identity of the community, as well as the dominant ideology.
The authors note that national identity is not necessarily a quality shared by the citizens of the state. They note that in many cases (in particular, in America), the nation and the state are not coextensive; American citizens have different national identities (O’Neil et al. 92). The impact of migration on national identity is generally explained by several factors, among which one can distinguish the number of immigrants and their ethnic identity. In addition, it also depends on the duration of immigration, and the willingness of immigrants to integrate into the cultural and linguistic space of the host state.
I had a challenge with the concept of national identity; as a child of migrants in the second generation, I observed a crisis of national identity in my grandfather. Despite the fact that relations with his grandmother were warm, his children and grandchildren live in America, his grandfather suffered from quiet depression for many years. He always had a sense of alienation from American culture, which at one time made me also think about what kind of culture is still native to me.
To a large extent, the impact of migration on American national identity can be determined by the attitude of the state itself to immigrants and its immigration policy. The political authorities and civil society should respond in a timely manner to cases of ethno-political conflicts arising as a result of population migration. In addition, it is necessary to coordinate and regulate these processes at the legislative level.
Works Cited
Carvalho, Sergio, et al. “The Role of National Identity in Consumption: An Integrative Framework.” Journal of Business Research, vol. 103, no. 6, 2019, pp. 310-318.
O’Neil, Patrick, et al. Cases in Comparative Politics. W. W. Norton & Company, 2017.