What was the relationship between nationalism and anti-colonialism?

Nationalism and anti-colonialism are very closely knit in the sense that they were both helped lead to revolutions and each one stimulated the other. The unity of culture and tradition created a sense of nationalism (a pride in their own history and tradition) among the people and motivated them to break away from their mother countries and form their own governments under their own laws. In the same way, anti-colonialism also sometimes spawned nationalism. Anti-colonialists pointed out the flaws in the governance of the mother countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Britain) and helped inspire others to think that they themselves could do a better job than the distant rulers who shared neither their history nor their objectives. In this way, nationalism and anti-colonialism were united in revolution and helped each other thrive in the new governments formed in former colonies.

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Smith, Bonnie G., Richard Von Glahn, and Kris E. Lane. Crossroads and Cultures: A History of the World's Peoples. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012. Print.