This paper examines the relationship between economic inequality and nationalist sentiments across advanced democracies over a 20-year period. The author, Frederick Solt, tests the diversionary theory of nationalism, which posits that states generate more nationalism to divert attention from economic inequality and forestall demands for redistributive policies. The study uses data from the World Values Survey and Eurobarometer surveys, along with measures of economic inequality from the Luxembourg Income Study and international conflict data from the Correlates of War project. The results support the diversionary theory, showing that greater economic inequality is associated with higher levels of national pride, which serves as a diversion from economic inequality and reduces calls for redistributive policies. The paper also discusses the implications of these findings for understanding ethnic conflict, the likelihood of war, and the relationship between economic inequality and democratic politics.This paper examines the relationship between economic inequality and nationalist sentiments across advanced democracies over a 20-year period. The author, Frederick Solt, tests the diversionary theory of nationalism, which posits that states generate more nationalism to divert attention from economic inequality and forestall demands for redistributive policies. The study uses data from the World Values Survey and Eurobarometer surveys, along with measures of economic inequality from the Luxembourg Income Study and international conflict data from the Correlates of War project. The results support the diversionary theory, showing that greater economic inequality is associated with higher levels of national pride, which serves as a diversion from economic inequality and reduces calls for redistributive policies. The paper also discusses the implications of these findings for understanding ethnic conflict, the likelihood of war, and the relationship between economic inequality and democratic politics.