The Positive Power of Patriotism

As we enter Memorial Day weekend, I've been reflecting on the positive power of patriotism. This holiday is a time to honor the incredible bravery and sacrifices of those who gave their lives for our country. It's also a chance to think about how we can balance America's core values – our commitment to individual liberty and pluralism that have fueled our economic, creative, and cultural success – with a shared sense of national pride that brings people together across differences to tackle the challenges we face.

For the last several years, I've been exploring American attitudes towards patriotism. While some express skepticism about patriotism, studies in social psychology show there are real benefits to uniting people around a shared group identity, and specifically, what is called a superordinate group identity. This is a group identity that unites smaller groups, even ones that are in strong disagreement, such as opposing political factions.

For example, hyper-partisan politics in the United States has led many Americans to think of themselves as divided into two distinct and opposing groups—Republicans and Democrats, or conservatives and liberals. However, these two groups, despite their many real (and often exaggerated) differences, are part of a superordinate group. While they disagree strongly on a host of issues, even committed partisans are Americans and can unite around that group identity.

Patriotism is a way to cultivate a superordinate group identity, a sense of national belonging. Indeed, surveys our team at the Archbridge Institute's Human Flourishing Lab has conducted find that patriotic Americans - those who say they are proud of their national identity - are more likely to believe their fellow Americans can be trusted. This is important because social trust is critical for a nation. Social trust promotes social cohesion, and people in socially cohesive societies enjoy greater psychological well-being. Social trust is also positively associated with entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth, as well as greater democratic stability.

We also find that patriotic Americans are more likely to have a strong sense of hope for the future of their country, which is a critical ingredient of progress. A hopeful mindset inspires people to work hard to make their positive visions a reality. 

The key is that patriotism shouldn't be tied to any one political stance – it only works to unite us if it's embraced across the spectrum. Republicans, Democrats, and independents should be able to unite around a patriotic spirit, even if they disagree on many policy issues.

The good news is that our research shows that the vast majority of Americans, regardless of politics, age, income, and race, are proud to be American. The bad news is that we also find that there is a widening partisan gap in national pride among younger Americans. In general, Americans under 30 are less likely to be proud to be American than older generations. But young liberal are especially disinclined toward patriotism, with less than half expressing pride, compared to 75% of young conservatives. Contrast that with older Americans, where over 90% are proud of the country regardless of party.

Now, to be clear, being patriotic doesn't mean turning a blind eye to America's flaws and failings. Every nation has room for improvement, and being able to openly criticize and push for progress is vital. But when that criticism crosses over into relentless cynicism, it starts to eat away at the patriotic spirit that can energize us to improve our country for ourselves and future generations.

Fostering a patriotism that includes all of us, in this era of intense polarization, is no easy task. But if we want America to flourish in the decades to come, we must find a way to rise above the partisan fray and reconnect with that shared national spirit.

So this Memorial Day, as we remember the profound sacrifices made for this country, let's also commit to honoring those sacrifices by rededicating ourselves to the promise of America – to the values and hopes we all hold in common, even when we disagree.

Wishing you all a meaningful Memorial Day weekend,

Clay