本文的目的在藉由歷史教育的經驗，分析民族主義對現代中國知識分子與一般大眾的影響，並進而探討歷史教育如何解決民族主義與國家認同問題。民族主義原本是一種共同的價值觀，當國家認同出現危機時，民族主義連同歷史教育都會遭到曲解與誤用，甚至成爲政治人物操弄的工具。本文首先解釋民族主義的意義，用的是當代人的眼光，而不是傳統的定義。其次分析近二百年來歐洲的民族主義類型，雖然種類很多很難分類，最後仍然是好與壞兩種價值判斷。考量兩岸的政治局勢，這種分類方式最符合我們的認知。誰要民族主義？誰不要民族主義？結果勢必是道德上的是與非，族群認同於是變成敵我意識的標誌。當民族主義變成一種信仰選擇，歷史教育就會淪落成宣傳工具。證諸史實，極端的民族主義會引發戰爭，但適切的民族主義卻有利國家發展。當國家認同出現危機時，正是歷史教育的轉機。

This author intends to discuss the influences of nationalism on the modern Chinese intellectuals and the common populace with the experience of historical education. Originally, nationalism is one kind of common values, when there is a crisis in national identity nationalism together with the historical education can encounter misinterprets and misuses, even becomes the tool which the political figure manipulates. This article first explained the significance of nationalism from the point view of modern people, not the traditional definition, next analyzed the types of nationalism in near for 200 year Europe. Due to the types are so complex that there is no simple classification. Finally it is still a value judgment between good nationalism and bad nationalism. Considering the political situation across the Taiwan Strait we are easy to accept this classification. Who needs or needs not nationalism? The answer will be an argument without conclusion. The ethnic identity goes astray to become a symbol of antagonistic relationship. As soon as nationalism becomes a choice of faith the history education is nothing but a tool for propaganda. From the development of history we understand that radical nationalism usually brings war, but moderate nationalism is useful for the country. It is a good opportunity for history education when the crisis of national identity emerges.