National Aspirational Ideal
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A National Aspirational Ideal is a collective ideal that represents the hopes, goals, and ideals of a nation.
- Context:
- It can (typically) represent the Shared Values, Shared Beliefs, and Shared Aspirations (of a country's people).
- It can (typically) encapsulate an idealized vision of the nation's identity, purpose, and potential.
- It can (often) originate from a country's founding principles, historical struggles, or cultural narratives, evolving to reflect changing social, economic, and political realities.
- It can be portrayed and reinforced through National Literature, National Art, National Media, and National Popular Culture, shaping a nation's collective psyche and serving as a source of inspiration and unity.
- It can oversimplify complex realities, perpetuate myths, or fail to align with the lived experiences of marginalized groups within a nation.
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- Example(s):
- Western Examples:
- a The American Dream: Emphasizes social mobility through hard work, as epitomized by the opportunity to achieve prosperity and success regardless of circumstances. Key elements include homeownership, education, and entrepreneurship.
- a The Canadian Dream: Highlights multiculturalism and the idea of a cultural mosaic rather than a melting pot. Valuing diversity and building an inclusive society are central.
- a The Australian Dream: Focuses on the rugged individualism and resilience represented by the "bushman" archetype. An egalitarian spirit and connection to the land are key components.
- a The English Dream: Often depicted as a tranquil rural idyll or a "green and pleasant land." Highlights connection to history, tradition, and the countryside.
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- Non-Western Examples:
- a The Japanese Dream: Emphasizes finding harmony between individual pursuits and societal responsibilities, diligence and craftsmanship, respect for nature and aesthetics, spiritual fulfillment, and preservation of cultural heritage.
- a The Chinese Dream: Emphasizes national rejuvenation, improvement of people's livelihoods, prosperity, and collective effort towards building a moderately prosperous society.
- a The Indian Dream: Increasingly focused on economic development and securing a better life, while also valuing diversity, spirituality, and family.
- a The South African Dream (post-apartheid), focuses on building a "rainbow nation" that enshrines democracy, equality, diversity, and freedom from oppression. Mandela is an iconic figure.
- a The Brazilian Dream: Traditionally emphasized economic security, though interpretations vary across class lines. The idea of "racial democracy" and cultural vibrancy are important elements for many.
- a The Israeli Dream: Encompasses the realization of a sovereign Jewish state, ensuring security, ingathering of exiles, pioneering spirit, nation-building, and achieving lasting peace and regional integration.
- a The Palestinian Dream: Represents the aspiration for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, ending occupation, ensuring the right of return for refugees, and upholding equality, justice, and cultural identity.
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- Contrasting Examples:
- a The Soviet Dream under Communism: Focused on building a classless society and a "new Soviet person," in contrast to individualistic capitalist dreams.
- a A Nazi Germany Fascist Dream (in Nazi Germany): Emphasized national rebirth, racial purity, military strength, and subordination of the individual to the state - a totalitarian vision in contrast to democratic national dreams.
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- Western Examples:
- Counter-Example(s):
- an Organizational Aspirational Ideal (for an organization).
- an Social Class Ideal, such as: an aristocratic dream, which focuses on the aspirations of the elite rather than the collective populace.
- a Castecratic Dream, rooted in a hierarchical system rather than egalitarian ideals.
- a Confucian Dream, which prioritizes harmony and hierarchy within a family or community over national aspirations.
- See: Collective Aspiration, National Identity, Cultural Narrative, Social Mobility, Democracy, Equality
References
2024
- Perplexity
- A national dream is indeed a collective aspiration that represents the hopes, goals, and ideals of a nation. Some key points about national dreams:
- A national dream encapsulates the shared values, beliefs, and aspirations that a country's people strive towards. It is an idealized vision of the nation's identity, purpose, and potential that unites its diverse populace.[1]
- National dreams often originate from a country's founding principles, historical struggles, or cultural narratives. They evolve over time, reflecting the changing social, economic, and political realities.[3]
- The American Dream, as an influential national dream, embodies ideals like democracy, rights, liberty, opportunity, and equality. It represents the aspiration for upward social mobility and a better life through hard work, regardless of circumstances.[1][2]
- Other examples include the Canadian dream of a multicultural mosaic society, the Australian legend of the resilient bushman, the English rural idyll, and the Russian soul.[3]
- National dreams are frequently portrayed and reinforced through literature, art, media, and popular culture. They shape a nation's collective psyche and serve as a source of inspiration and unity.[2][3]
- However, national dreams can also be criticized for oversimplifying complex realities, perpetuating myths, or failing to align with the lived experiences of marginalized groups within a nation.[2]
- Despite challenges or evolving interpretations, national dreams remain powerful symbols that continue to resonate with many citizens, encapsulating their shared hopes for their country's future.[1][4]
- Citations:
[1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Dream [2] https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-american-dream-definition-examples.html [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream [4] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/American%20dream [5] https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/american-dream/