Nationalism is a romanticist ideology and its appeal is based upon emotion rather than rational logic. In common with fascism, the ideology of nationalism centres upon the politics of action rather than academic rigour. Because of this, nationalism has often been described as intellectually the weakest of all the ideologies; and there is some merit to this claim. However, this does not mean that we can simply dismiss nationalism. Nationalist ideas have shaped the world in a dramatic fashion, and the world we inhabit is - quite literally - defined by national boundaries. Even in an era characterised by mutual dependence and globalisation; nationalist ideas retain their visceral power.