Jingoism

   Clamorous and pugnacious patriotism commonly used to describe popular bellicosity leading up to or during foreign wars. “Jingo” is a corruption of the name of Jing¯u K ōg ō, a legendary Japanese goddess credited with subduing the kingdoms of Korea. Its popular use in Britain dates to 1877–1878 when public opinion mobilized in support of Benjamin Disraeli ’s dispatch of naval forces and Indian colonial troops to oppose Russia’s invasion of the Balkans and possible seizure of the Dardanelles.

   Music hall audiences sang that “We don’t want to fight, but, by Jingo if we do, we’ve got the men, we’ve got the ships, we’ve got the money too.” One of the more noteworthy episodes of jingoism came during the Boer War on May 18, 1900, when news reached Britain of the relief of a British garrison at Mafeking after a seven-month siege. Mobs celebrated the victory by taking to the streets and in some instances attacking the houses of anti-imperialists or reputed “pro-Boers.” The event, in turn, coined a new term: mafficking .

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   FURTHER READING:

    Hobson, J. A. The Psychology of Jingoism. London: G. Richards, 1901.

   CARL CAVANAGH HODGE