Donald Trump being elected, the United Kingdom leaving the European Union and Marine Le Pen being a serious contender in the 2017 French elections all have something significant in common: nationalism is on the rise.

When one hears the word “nationalism” one often associates it with something negative, such as Nazism or fascism. However, nationalism is far from a negative. Countries are beginning to see the positives in nationalistic policies and the negatives in globalist policies. Various countries, such as the US, UK and France, are beginning to look toward nationalism as their source of law, order and tranquility. In order for international unity to truly be successful, countries must take a look at themselves in the mirror first, then onto others.

Nationalism seems to be on the rise due to a collective sense to reject globalist policies. Under Barack Obama’s administration, globalist policies were warmly welcomed and heavily encouraged. It was more important to accept other cultures first and to put America in the back seat. Trump’s victory in November was the rejection of these policies. American jobs were being lost, terrorism was steadily increasing and other countries, like Iran, were taking advantage of America diplomatically. These events were unacceptable and nationalistic policies seemed to be the cure to this illness.

Within the last few years, globalist policies have been unsuccessful. France, Sweden and Germany have allowed hundreds of thousands of Middle Eastern migrants past their borders and due to this, terrorism, crime and violence are on a steep incline within these countries. Sweden’s crime rate has dramatically increased as immigration has increased, Germany and France are consistently struggling with terrorist attacks and the hundreds of thousands of Middle-Eastern migrants are failing to assimilate to these European cultures. France has taken notice of these faulty policies and that is why Le Pen gained so much popularity during the election. Sweden and Germany have still not taken full action, but eventually both of these countries will be forced to turn away from these policies and toward a more nationalistic approach.

In the summer of 2016 the U.K. opted out of continuing its membership in the EU. Led by Nigel Farage and members of the UKIP and Conservative Parties the British populist voted 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent to leave the EU. The U.K. decided it was time to step away from its European community and rather focus on improving itself first. The European Union’s strict rules and regulations were weakening the U.K.’s national identity, economy and culture. The U.K.’s turn toward nationalism has seemed to be successful thus far.

However, nationalism should not be taken to the extreme. Meaning, complete isolationism is never the answer. Rather it is important to improve one’s own country primarily, while still maintaining positive relations with other nations. Separating countries from others entirely will not lead down a good road, but putting one’s country first will. A country must better itself first, then it can look onto bettering the entire international world.

Nationalistic policies allow for countries to step back from the international landscape and evaluate their domestic issues first. On the other hand, globalism forces countries to put themselves in the figurative backseat. Globalist polices are failing and together it is possible to Make Nationalism Great Again.