A shared language and traditions are central to national identity, according to a Pew Research Center survey released on January 18.
After surveying respondents from more than 20 countries, 91% say fluency in the country’s language is key to being “a true national.” Eight in ten people (81%) say “true belonging” is marked by sharing in their country’s customs and traditions. For this survey, the four markers for national identity are language, customs and traditions, birthplace and religion.
Responses varied regarding the connection between birthplace and national identity. While majorities in “about half” of the countries agree that it is important for a person to be born in the country, it is more important in “middle-income” countries than “high-income” countries, according to the study.
The views differ for the countries surveyed when asked if membership in the prominent religion is an indication of national identity. Some “middle-income countries” are more likely to agree, while fewer “high-income” countries consider this to be a part of “true belonging.”
“The United States stands out for having the lowest share who say speaking the country’s most common language is important for being a true national (78%),” Christine Huang, a research associate, Laura Clancy, a research analyst and Sarah Austin, a research assistant, write. “A relatively low share of Americans say the same about participating in the country’s traditions (71%).”
“On the other hand, those in the U.S. place more emphasis on being a member of the country’s primary religion than people in most other high-income countries surveyed (37%). U.S. views on birthplace fall around the middle of the high-income countries (50%).”
For the survey’s methodology, click here. To read the full report, click here.
Director of The Raceless Gospel Initiative, an associate editor, host of the Good Faith Media podcast, “The Raceless Gospel” and author of Take Me to the Water: The Raceless Gospel as Baptismal Pedagogy for a Desegregated Church.