Jingoism

noun (uncountable)

/ˈdʒɪŋ.ɡəʊ.ɪ.zəm/

Extreme, belligerent nationalism or chauvinism, especially as expressed through an aggressive, sabre-rattling foreign policy and a contemptuous attitude towards other nations.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

When statecraft surrenders to the television studio, sober diplomacy is too often drowned out by jingoism, as governments substitute the hard work of negotiation with theatrical displays of belligerence calculated to inflame, rather than inform, public opinion.

Synonyms

chauvinismultranationalismbelligerent nationalismsuper-patriotismhawkishnesssabre-rattling

Antonyms

internationalismcosmopolitanismpacifismpatriotism (moderatereasoned)

🌱 Word Family

jingo (n), jingoist (n), jingoistic (adj), jingoistically (adv)

🔡 Root

Coined/Modern: English jingo (euphemistic oath, 1690s) + -ism; popularised by 1878 British music-hall song

📜 Etymology

From English "jingo" + "-ism"; coined 1878 from the refrain of a British music-hall song ("we don't want to fight, but by Jingo if we do...") backing aggressive policy against Russia in the Russo-Turkish War. "Jingo" was a colloquial euphemistic oath (by jingo, 1690s), probably a minced form of "Jesus".

🧠 Memory Hook

Picture a crowd roaring "by JINGO, let's fight!" -- "jingo" was the war-cry of music-hall hotheads, so JINGOism = flag-waving spoiling for a fight.

🤝 International Relations 📖 Seen in: India & Its Neighbours — Bilateral Rel...

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