:stalin-heart: Yeah I find it's very easy to go down the track of "all nationalism=bad" as a Western leftist, since it's very obvious that any nationalism in the Global North is very very bad and often leads to genocide. There have been and continue to be examples of countries outside of this core that have built up a "nation" and socialism together, wedded nationalism to socialism in an internationally oriented manner, and have succeeded. China is the perfect example that comes to mind, the only caveat being that the era of China supporting revolution outside of China seems to have come to an end after the normalization of relations with the United States since the 70's. They won't hurt any revolutionary movement, and are more than willing to work with you when you succeed, but don't want to rock the boat and risk being seen as a bad actor on the international stage. This is the bad part of nationalism, but as the Great Satan falls further into obscurity and collapse I have a feeling this is going to change :xi-shining:

Can a Communist, who is an internationalist, at the same time be a patriot? We hold that he not only can be but also must be. The specific content of patriotism is determined by historical conditions. There is the "patriotism" of the Japanese aggressors and of Hitler, and there is our patriotism. Communists must resolutely oppose the "patriotism" of the Japanese aggressors and of Hitler. The Communists of Japan and Germany are defeatists with regard to the wars being waged by their countries. To bring about the defeat of the Japanese aggressors and of Hitler by every possible means is in the interests of the Japanese and the German people, and the more complete the defeat the better.... For the wars launched by the Japanese aggressors and Hitler are harming the people at home as well as the people of the world. China's case, however, is different, because she is the victim of aggression. Chinese Communists must therefore combine patriotism with internationalism. We are at once internationalists and patriots, and our slogan is, "Fight to defend the motherland against the aggressors." For us defeatism is a crime and to strive for victory in the War of Resistance is an inescapable duty. For only by fighting in defense of the motherland can we defeat the aggressors and achieve national liberation. And only by achieving national liberation will it be possible for the proletariat and other working people to achieve their own emancipation. The victory of China and the defeat of the invading imperialists will help the people of other countries. Thus in wars of national liberation patriotism is applied internationalism.

I don't think Mao would agree with you here. It's definitely more nuanced than you're implying.

It is very dangerous to give concessions to reactionaries.