Hyper-nationalism and Utilitarianism in More’s Utopia

H.G. Wells once said, “ Our true nationality is mankind,” a statement that reflects an ideology one might assume a place called “utopia” would have. However, in Thomas More’s Utopia, the opposite idea is portrayed. Utopia is intended to be the perfect and ideal society that sets an example to all other societies. For a society that thinks of itself as “the most civilized nation in the world,”  Utopia is also riddled with the seeds of hypernationalism that leave a dark spot over this so-called ideal society (More 50). Much of this nationalism appears to be rooted in utilitarianism within Utopian society. While the relationship between utilitarianism and hypernationalism may at first appear strange, the two are intrinsically related in More’s Utopia.

    One way that the connection between the two can be seen is in the Utopian response to outsiders. The well-traveled Raphael recounts the Utopian society to More including the way in which the Utopians designed the island so as not to welcome outside entry. The Utopian shores are described as rocky and deadly “because you can’t see them” and the Utopians alone know where the rocks are, an aspect that shows just how protective of their society they are (More 49). This isolationist form of hypernationalism is not a new concept for Utopia as the very founding of the nation was based on this ideology. When Utopos conquered the land known as Utopia, it was not an island, but a peninsula. In creating and protecting their island in this way, the Utopians reveal that they are more concerned with their own interests and keeping their own culture protected from outside influence than they are with the possibility of sharing with the global community what makes their society so extraordinary. The people proclaim utilitarianism to the extent that the island is, according to Raphael, “like one big household” (More 65).  Looking at their society through this lens reveals the Utopian love for mankind only exists in-so-far as the reaches of their island nation, thus revealing the hypernationalism tied to Utopian utilitarianism.

Another aspect in which Utopia’s hypernationalism and utilitarianism can be examined is their relations with and distrust of other nations. In regards to Utopian international relations, Raphael explains that Utopians believe “you can’t rely on treaties at all” (More 89). They think that honesty is viewed as a lesser virtue, more adept to the common man, and more than that, Utopians dislike treaties on principle as well. Although a treaty’s purpose is to unite nations under common interests and goals, the Utopian idea is that “treaties make people regard one another as natural enemies” rather than friends (More 89). Because Utopians follow this philosophy, they abstain from entering treaties or relationships with other nations at all. The lack of interest in international affairs points to Utopia’s desire to keep to themselves due to their belief in their own superiority. Utopians believed themselves to be better than other nations and thus considered it plebian to involve themselves with the petty affairs of other nations when they could instead focus on the betterment and good of their nation.

More’s Utopian society also makes evident the roots of hypernationalism and utilitarianism in discussing pride. Raphael said that even Christ “would have led the whole world to adopt the Utopian system long ago,” but the issue of pride emerged (More 112). The explanation of pride as something that is not delighting in what one has but in what one has that another doesn’t, and according to Raphael, this is something hated by Utopians. However, pride is a downfall of Utopia despite their hatred of it. Utopians are so blinded by their own sense of superiority that they are unable to see just how pride has infiltrated their nation. It is agreed upon that pride is a “fault to deeply ingrained in human nature to easily be eradicated,” and yet, Raphael and other Utopians believe that they have created a system that eliminates “ambition, political conflict, and everything like that” and therefore eliminate pride also (More 112-113). The irony of Utopia is that their belief in being too superior for pride to exist among them is the very thing that makes them prideful. Their pride is just not simply pride among individuals but is instead a particular form of pride that is placed in their society as a whole leading to the sense of unhealthy nationalism noticeable throughout. 

More’s Utopia examines what a perfect society supposedly is and points out the dangers located within them. It is the danger of becoming so utilitarian and so nationalistic that pride enters the equation that is Utopia’s downfall. Ultimately, what guides Utopia is their own superiority complex, a fact that nations around the world could stand to garner a warning from.