I’m devoting some time today returning to my academic roots, considering words and language, with the focus on French of course. Everything I’m hearing and reading on my news channels reflects the biases of individuals and their lack of concern for consideration of a wider context and the views of others. What I’m seeing and hearing had me using the term “chauvinism” and immediately remembering that this word had significant French roots. The difference in usage of this word between English and French speakers is pointed out on this Anglophone website which shares tips for English speakers visiting the Pyrennees.

I wanted to dig a little deeper into Nicholas Chauvin, the “patriotic soldier” and found that the British museum has a woodcut depicting him but the image is not on display. It would appear that he may well be a fictional character “a mythical super-patriot” embodying the sort of confused and misplaced logic which can result from traumatic experiences (eg his experiences of the Napoleonic war). I came across this website, created as background notes for an opera with music composed by Malcolm Hill and straight away I see the more nuanced evolution of the word chauvinism which I was aware of from my uni studies. An idealogical embodiment. I quote:

“In this conception, chauvinists are one type of people who have adapted to one way of life and who are incapable of adapting to a changed state of affairs. Their adaptation precludes adaptability. Their beliefs are scripted and their brains are wired by charismatic leaders, whose power and authority are based on their mere assertions. They are supported by “true-believers” who too readily accept those ideas. The ideology of the leader and followers is the yardstick by which they measure all things. They are people who have lost their niche and in their rigid denial of a changed state of affairs and facts contrary to their ideas are attempting to cope by re-establishing a state in which their niche is restored to its former concordance with the background, in this case, the military glory under “the little corporal”, the spirit of Napoleon’s armies.”

http://www.chauvin.org.uk/story.htm

I see this as a common factor of all those who worry me most at the moment, those who are influenced by their “leaders” be they Trump, Vance, Putin, Musk, or their many acolytes. Malcolm rightly states “a chauvinism for every demographic category, sex, age, race, blood, religion, nationality, etc., probably exists as a phenomenon in contemporary society.” We live in an era of racism, mysogyny and exclusion.

So how can we help these misguided people and let them appreciate the wider picture with eyes open?

Good quality journalism brings fact checking to bear. I include a photo of the linked article “How do JD Vance’s claims about Europe stand up?” here for those who don’t have access to the link.

The motion of these nationalistic “thought leaders” is retrograde, they attempt to influence others to abandon the societal progress we have made towards awareness of diverse and equitable social values through their perverted discourse and policy making. They seeks to halt progress through fear mongering and hatred. They promulgate chauvinism in all its forms for their own ends. They do so in the name of “free speech” and they seem to be free to lie without consequence. Along the way they cultivate a form of blind “religiofication”. I would love to see the image held by the British Museum. When I looked into it there would be a fee of at least £60 to request an image so I will make do with the description they provide. That of a poor, mentally tourmented soldier, clutching his medal, surrounded by death and destruction. The man digging in the field represents to me someone carrying on his normal life regardless. I entreat all to take notice.