Surveys show that patriotism is unpopular among progressives. To many of them, love of country is a divisive and backward-looking sentiment that stands in the way of progress. The reality, however, is just the opposite: Patriotism can promote the type of shared national identity and optimistic mindset that facilitates progress. If we want to build a better tomorrow, we need Americans on the left, right and in between to adopt a patriotic attitude.
Most Americans claim to be patriotic. For example, according to a 2021 Gallup survey, 87% of Republicans, 65% of independents and 62% of Democrats report that they are extremely or very proud to be American. A study I conducted in 2020 found that the vast majority of Americans—across political, gender, racial and income categories—are proud to be American. Other surveys paint a similar picture of Americans generally united by national pride. While they are increasingly distrustful of many institutions and are concerned about the future of the nation, they remain grateful and proud to be American.
But this patriotism is not shared by many on the progressive left. A 2020 report from More in Common indicates that only 34% of progressive activists are proud to be American. However, because progressive activists increasingly dominate academic institutions and popular media outlets, their negative attitude may have an outsized effect in undermining patriotism among young Americans.
For instance, in a 2021 survey conducted by the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth, 45% of American college students reported that their classes and other academic activities had given them a more negative view of the United States. Only 11% indicated that their college classes and activities had given them a more positive view of their nation. And this wasn’t confined to students on the left: Both liberal and conservative students were far more likely to say their college experience had changed their view of the U.S. to be more negative than to be more positive.
More and more, universities are treating ideas, symbols and rituals that promote or even subtly support patriotism as problematic. For example, some American colleges have removed the American flag entirely from their campus, while others, such as Stanford, describe statements such as “America is the land of opportunity” as microaggressions.
Continue reading at Discourse Magazine.
Clay Routledge, PhD, is the Vice President of Research and Director of the Human Flourishing Lab at the Archbridge Institute. As a leading expert in existential psychology, his work focuses on helping people reach their full potential and build meaningful lives. Follow his work @clayroutledge and subscribe to his newsletter, Flourishing Fridays.
Culture of Flourishing
Surveys show that patriotism is unpopular among progressives. To many of them, love of country is a divisive and backward-looking sentiment that stands in the way of progress. The reality, however, is just the opposite: Patriotism can promote the type of shared national identity and optimistic mindset that facilitates progress. If we want to build a better tomorrow, we need Americans on the left, right and in between to adopt a patriotic attitude.
Most Americans claim to be patriotic. For example, according to a 2021 Gallup survey, 87% of Republicans, 65% of independents and 62% of Democrats report that they are extremely or very proud to be American. A study I conducted in 2020 found that the vast majority of Americans—across political, gender, racial and income categories—are proud to be American. Other surveys paint a similar picture of Americans generally united by national pride. While they are increasingly distrustful of many institutions and are concerned about the future of the nation, they remain grateful and proud to be American.
But this patriotism is not shared by many on the progressive left. A 2020 report from More in Common indicates that only 34% of progressive activists are proud to be American. However, because progressive activists increasingly dominate academic institutions and popular media outlets, their negative attitude may have an outsized effect in undermining patriotism among young Americans.
For instance, in a 2021 survey conducted by the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth, 45% of American college students reported that their classes and other academic activities had given them a more negative view of the United States. Only 11% indicated that their college classes and activities had given them a more positive view of their nation. And this wasn’t confined to students on the left: Both liberal and conservative students were far more likely to say their college experience had changed their view of the U.S. to be more negative than to be more positive.
More and more, universities are treating ideas, symbols and rituals that promote or even subtly support patriotism as problematic. For example, some American colleges have removed the American flag entirely from their campus, while others, such as Stanford, describe statements such as “America is the land of opportunity” as microaggressions.
Continue reading at Discourse Magazine.
Clay Routledge
Clay Routledge, PhD, is the Vice President of Research and Director of the Human Flourishing Lab at the Archbridge Institute. As a leading expert in existential psychology, his work focuses on helping people reach their full potential and build meaningful lives. Follow his work @clayroutledge and subscribe to his newsletter, Flourishing Fridays.
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