Exploring the Dual Dimensions of Patriotism: How Satisfaction and Fear Shape National Pride Across Contexts

Patriotism reflects a citizen’s positive attachment to their country, rooted in both instrumental and sentimental dimensions. The instrumental dimension emerges from evaluations of state performance, while the sentimental dimension is tied to a shared collective identity. This paper examines how satisfaction with the political system and perceptions of external threats contribute to heightened national pride and explores how these relationships are influenced by contextual factors. Using data from 60 countries in the World Values Survey, the analysis reveals that political satisfaction significantly predicts national pride, with this effect being more pronounced in democratic countries where citizens are more engaged in political evaluation. Similarly, fear of conflict also amplifies patriotic sentiment; however, its impact is moderated not by democratic contexts but by conflict exposure, with stronger effects observed in countries experiencing higher levels of conflict. These findings contribute to understanding the interplay between individual perceptions and contextual factors in shaping patriotic sentiments.