Library Data

Social and political phenomenon seen on scores of solomani-settled planets in the wake of the fall of the 2nd Imperium. During the 400 years or so that the Rule of Man lasted a goodly number of the thinly settled planets in Delphi, Diaspora, Massila, Old Expanses and Solomani Rim sectors were colonized from Terra. Emigrants had a tendency to prefer planets where people of their own ethnic and cultural background were already established. Nationalism as such was an ill-favoured concept in the days of The Terran Federation and continued to be under under the Rule of Man. Peaceful cultural individualism, however, were not, and different groups usually coexisted without any significant trouble.

But as the Twilight fell and The Long Night grew steadily darker, ethnic and cultural sub-groups on scores of planets dug up old cultural differences and used them as a rallying point to increase the group's sense of identity. These reconstructed cultures were usually extremely romanticized, often twisted almost beyond recognition, but all of them focused on a past glorious grandeur and a coming similar glory for the group. Examples are the inheritors of Scandia/Solomani Rim and the neo-germanics of Funftreich/Diaspora. Often an old forgotten language was reconstructed and made the national language, usually at the expense of the Anglic that had been the universal language of The Terran Confederation and The 2nd Empire. Many planets were renamed at the same time.

Many planets in the Domain of Deneb and beyond it were colonized by neo-nationalists. When planets with a strong neo-nationalist background were reintegrated into The 3rd Imperium there were usually groups that preferred emigration to staying under the new regime. Thus Caledonia/Glisten was colonized from Duncan/Alpha Crucis, Ghandi/Lanth from Cathay/Vega and Olympia/Lunion from Athene/Ultima.

Opinions about neo-nationalism are sharply divided. On some planets it led to a greater sense of community, prevented polarization of the society and probably to a greater or lesser extent saved the planet from regression or destruction. On others, especially planets with more than one dominant group, it led to balkanization, wars and destruction.