In the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, nation states played a key role. It seems that the process of globalisation, which foresaw a gradual reduction of the importance of nation states, has encountered a crisis. In searching for reasons for the resurgence of national identities in a modern global context, we will lean onto the analysis in Francis Fukuyama’s newest book Identity. His belief is that the continued development of a democratic society on the global level, which will ensure the respect of fundamental human rights for everyone, depends especially on the existence of nation states. A similar viewpoint is shared by the social doctrine of the Church, which in modern global challenges, such as environmental protection, migrations, pandemic control, based on the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, admits to nation states an important role in providing the universal common good. At the same time, however, he rejects nationalism which stresses egotistical care only for members of one’s own nation and neglects the universal brotherhood and sisterhood of all people.
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