Poll: Politics shapes patriotism, from the US to the UK
An international edition of The POLITICO Poll details how national pride differs across six major democracies of the West.
An international edition of The POLITICO Poll details how national pride differs across six major democracies of the West. This report comes from Pol
Read Full Story at Politico →Why This Matters
The findings reveal a troubling convergence: in six of the West’s most stable democracies, patriotism is no longer a unifying civic virtue but a political litmus test. This shift underscores how identity politics have eroded the shared narratives that once defined national pride, turning allegiance into a partisan badge of honor—or rejection.
Background Context
Historically, national pride in Western democracies was rooted in civic institutions, cultural milestones, and economic prosperity, not partisan alignment. The erosion of this consensus began with the rise of identity-based politics in the late 20th century, but the digital age has accelerated its fragmentation, turning patriotism into a weaponized concept wielded by competing factions.
What Happens Next
As political polarization deepens, expect patriotism to become an even more contested terrain, with institutions like education and media increasingly pressured to align with one ideological camp. The risk is a feedback loop where national pride is weaponized to justify exclusionary policies, further fracturing social cohesion.
Bigger Picture
This trend reflects a global paradox: as democracies grow more interconnected, their citizens are retreating into narrower, politically defined identities. The POLITICO poll suggests that the West’s traditional post-war model of civic nationalism may be giving way to a fractured, partisan-driven understanding of belonging.
