and EXPLOITATIONof women derive from this antipatri-
archal movement.
Further Reading
Sartorius, R., ed. Paternalism.Minneapolis: University of Min-
nesota Press, 1983.
patriotism
The love of country, and feelings and actions of loyalty,
service, and pride in one’s nation. From the Latin,
patria, the word patriotic means identity with the
fatherland. Related to NATIONALISM, patriotism is a
sense of respect and duty to one’s country. Famous or
prominent national founders and leaders are consid-
ered patriots (such as George Washington and Paul
Revere in America; Winston Churchill of Great Britain;
MAO TSE-TUNGin China; Kemal ATATÜRKof Turkey, etc.).
Patriotism is generally a popular, valued ideal, but it
can be diminished by government abuse or public cyn-
icism (such as the decline of patriotism in the United
States during the 1960s because of the U.S. war policy
in Vietnam). Patriotic sentiments tend to increase dur-
ing times of national crisis, especially during periods
of war when the nation is threatened by foreign aggres-
sion. Consequently, as MACHIAVELLIpoints out, political
leaders (such as NAZIleader HITLERor Soviet dictator
STALIN) used international conflict to increase public
support for their governments.
All nations promote patriotism through public edu-
cation, national celebrations (e.g., the Fourth of July
or Independence Day in the United States), symbols
(such as the flag), and remembrance of patriotic deeds
and persons. Persecution of the early CHRISTIANSin the
Roman Empire was partly because they regarded no
earthly nation as their home but were loyal only to the
Kingdom of God. This separation of religion and poli-
tics (see CHURCH AND STATE) is not present in those
countries where nationality is tied to one religion
(ISLAMfor Arabs, Hinduism for India, ORTHODOXYfor
Russians, etc.), and belonging to that faith is part of
patriotism. Religious liberty and freedom has dimin-
ished that necessity for having certain religious beliefs
to be considered patriotic.
Famous statements about patriotism include U.S.
President John F. KENNEDY’s plea to “Ask not what your
country can do for you—ask what you can do for your
country” (a paraphrase of CICERO) and English critic
Samuel Johnson’s statement that “Patriotism is the last
refuge of a scoundrel” (implying that false patriotism
can be a self-interested trick). Excessive or mindless
patriotism (“My Country—Right or Wrong”) is called
jingoism and is often associated with the proud, mili-
tary aggression of FASCISM. This is sometimes con-
trasted with “true patriotism” in which love of country
includes criticizing the government or political leaders
when they are acting immorally or unjustly.patronage
A political system or practice that involves employ-
ment given by a “patron,” or sponsor. So, for example,
government jobs (ambassadorships, judgeships) con-
ferred by a person in authority (president, governor,
mayor) rather than by popular election are “patronage
appointments.”
Patronage has been a feature of most states through-
out history. The MEDIEVAL CATHOLICChurch was a patron
of the arts—employing artists to decorate churches, and
so on. The Roman EMPIREgranted most political jobs
through royal patronage. In the Middle Ages, European
monarchs had the power to grant titles of nobility, land,
pensions, and honors to anyone. This reliance on
patronage employment was seen as corrupt by the inde-
pendent lords and citizens because it concentrated
power in the central government and made most offi-
cials personally dependent on the king. By contrast, the
CLASSICAL REPUBLICANschool of political theory argued
for a popular election of officials, placing power in the
people or decentralized regions and encouraging distri-
bution of power and CHECKS AND BALANCES.
In Britain, the republican-versus-royal-patronage
battle takes the form of shifting authority between
king and Parliament (Lords and Commons). In Amer-
ica, the STATES-RIGHTSadvocates (such as Thomas JEF-
FERSON) attacked the patronage of the federal
government (as under Alexander HAMILTON). Propa-
tronage sentiments arose in the presidential adminis-
tration of Andrew JACKSON, where loyalty to and work
for the DEMOCRATIC PARTYwas rewarded with public
employment. The abuse and undemocratic corruption
of these Democratic Party “machines” caused civil-
service reform in the United States that required quali-
fied government personnel based on examinations and
nonpartisan qualifications. The president of the United
States still has control over thousands of government
jobs and usually appoints political-party supporters
(such as to ambassadorships), but most of the federal
BUREAUCRACYis under the civil service system.patronage 229