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Chauvinism is a negative term used to describe aggressive patriotism and support for war. It originated from the term “jingo” and is often used to describe belligerent politicians or supporters of unpopular wars. It appeals to nationalistic sentiments and can be simplistic, avoiding complex issues.
Chauvinism is a pejorative phrase used to describe jingoistic patriotism, characterized by a willingness to go to war and support for a very aggressive foreign policy. Like other pejoratives, it is usually not used in a self-referential way. The term can be used to describe belligerent politicians or administrations, as well as individual citizens. Someone who is a chauvinist could also be called a “war hawk,” the opposite of a “dove,” a moderate who promotes peaceful solutions.
The origins of the term are actually quite interesting. It begins with the term “jingo,” which was used as a euphemism for “from Jesus” as early as the 17th century. The term was common enough in the 17th century to be included in an 1800s British music hall song that was meant to rouse the British, encouraging them to go to war with Russia. The song’s rhetoric included the line “We don’t want to fight, again for jingo! if we do…” The song also contained references to Britain’s superior military strength and argued that the British had an obligation to ensure that “the Russians don’t have Constantinople”.
The slang term “chauvinism” quickly caught on to describe an attitude that promoted war with another nation. In the United States, the term was adopted several years later and became a popular substitute for “spread-eaglelism”. Spread-eagleism referred to the stretching of the wings of the national symbol of the United States, thus gaining more influence and territory. Both terms were featured in a number of humorous political cartoons that sometimes included clever puns like replacing the “jingle” in “jingle bells” with “jingo.”
The term is generally used to describe overly aggressive politicians or supporters of an unpopular war. During World War II, for example, politicians who advocated a quick and aggressive approach were not usually accused of chauvinism, as the war enjoyed a huge wave of popular support. On the other hand, the Falklands War in the early 1980s was accompanied by great sentiment that was perceived as jingoistic, fanned by the flames of national fervor.
When political rhetoric is heavily influenced by chauvinism, it usually appeals to nationalistic sentiments, encouraging good patriots to agree with the promoted views. It can also be very simplistic, sidestepping complex issues in favor of grassroots propaganda. Citizens of nations preparing to go to war may see a fair amount of jingoism on display, especially if the war is hotly contested between citizens and politicians.
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