Is nationalism rising in the same way everywhere?
No. Nationalism is rising globally, but it looks very different depending on where you are. A 2024 study of 240,000 respondents across 100 countries found that national pride and environmentalism are positively correlated in most of the world, but negatively correlated in parts of Western Europe and North America [1]. This means that in many developing countries, being proud of your nation goes hand-in-hand with caring for the environment, while in some wealthy Western nations, these sentiments pull apart.
In resource-rich regions like Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, nationalism takes the form of 'resource nationalism'—governments trying to capture more profit from oil and minerals. A 2025 study of conflicts in Nigeria's Niger Delta, Venezuela, Libya, and Iraq's Kurdistan found that sharp rises in commodity prices often trigger policies like nationalization and higher royalties, which then combine with weak governance to spark economic disruptions and violent conflict [4]. So in these regions, rising nationalism is directly tied to fights over natural resources.
How is nationalism spreading online?
Social media is a major driver of nationalism today, especially in countries like Indonesia and China. A 2025 study of Twitter/X users in Indonesia analyzed over 100,000 messages posted on Independence Day (August 17, 2024) and found that nationalism messages were organically generated by the public, with the most influential account being @aingriwehuy [2]. The messages were overwhelmingly positive in sentiment and came from both male and female users across all regions of the country.
In China, however, cyber-nationalism has taken a darker turn. A 2023 study of Chinese queer feminist activists (lala activists) found that they face coordinated cyber-nationalist attacks that combine 'palingenetic ultra-nationalism' with anti-gender/queer sentiments [5]. These attacks are part of a global neo-fascist trend that uses overlapping cyber-trolling infrastructures to target marginalized groups. The study notes that activists have responded by building friendship-based alliances that prioritize caring relationships over identity politics.
Can nationalism be green?
Yes, in many places nationalism and environmentalism are merging into 'green nationalism' or 'eco-nationalism.' A 2024 global survey found that eco-nationalism tends to emerge in less economically developed countries, and it is not affected by the degree of democracy, resource rents, or globalization [1]. This means that poorer countries are more likely to see environmental protection as a matter of national pride, regardless of their political system.
A 2025 study of environmental protests in Russia's regions (Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and Khanty-Mansiysk) found that green nationalism has been a powerful tool for political mobilization since the Soviet era [3]. During perestroika, environmental protests in Soviet republics were intertwined with nationalist ideas, and this pattern continues today. The study warns that unless green nationalism is channeled into constructive 'green patriotism,' it can radicalize political sentiment and destabilize multinational states.
Sources used in this answer
Nationalism and environmentalism from the global perspective: A comparative survey analysis of eco‐nationalism
A 2024 survey of 240,000 respondents across 100 countries found that national pride and environmentalism are positively correlated in most of the world, but negatively correlated in parts of Western Europe and North America.
A Map of Nationalism Message on Twitter/X Users in Indonesia
A 2025 analysis of Twitter/X messages in Indonesia on Independence Day found that nationalism messages were organically generated by the public, with positive sentiment and participation from both genders across all regions.
Environmental Protests and National Identity in a Multinational State: Green Nationalism in the USSR and Modern Russia
A 2025 study of environmental protests in Russia found that green nationalism has been a tool for political mobilization since the Soviet era, and that it can radicalize sentiment if not channeled into constructive green patriotism.
Resource nationalism and the new oil wars: Analyzing conflict dynamics across Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East
A 2025 study of oil-rich regions in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East found that resource nationalism—triggered by commodity price spikes—combines with weak governance to spark violent conflicts in places like Nigeria, Venezuela, Libya, and Iraq.
Lala activists in dark times: queer feminist resistance to the cyber-nationalist attacks in China
A 2023 study found that Chinese queer feminist activists face coordinated cyber-nationalist attacks that combine ultra-nationalism with anti-gender sentiments, and that they respond with friendship-based alliances.