Abstract

Using social identity approach as theoretical framework, this quasi-experiment investigated the effect of the valence (positive vs. negative) of salient national identity on nationalism of both leftists and rightists. After measuring their political orientation, 147 participants were randomly assigned to either a positive national identity, negative national identity or personal identity (control) condition and asked to answer questions about nationalism. Results indicated that rightists were higher in nationalism than leftists, especially in the condition in which national identity was positively evaluated. When national identity was negatively evaluated, leftists increased and rightist decreased their levels of nationalism so that, in this condition, leftists were as nationalistic as rightists.