Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely thrust into the political unconscious can sovereignty feel secure.
Interpretation
This quote discusses how nations can prosper by ignoring their own dark histories of violence and oppression, achieving a false sense of security in their sovereignty.
Terry Eagleton's quote reflects on the troubling tendency of nations to prosper while conveniently forgetting the injustices and crimes that led to their formation. By relegating these historical transgressions to the 'political unconscious,' nations can maintain a facade of strength and unity, but this obscured truth creates a precarious security for their sovereignty, highlighting the complex relationship between power and memory in political life.
In practice
In a political debate about national identity, one might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of acknowledging historical injustices.
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Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers. But I cannot say who will be the militia of the future day. If that paper on the table [the Constitution] gets no alteration, the militia of the future day may not consist of all classes, high and low, and rich and poor.
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