Banal nationalism

[3] The concept has been highly influential, particularly within the discipline of political geography, with continued academic interest since the book's publication in 1995.

[4] Today the term is used primarily in academic discussion of identity formation, geopolitics, and the nature of nationalism in contemporary political culture.

[8] Michael Billig's primary purpose in coining the term was to clearly differentiate everyday, regular nationalism from extremist variants.

[4][5] Billig noted the almost unspoken assumption of the utmost importance of the nation in political discourse of the time, for example in the calls to protect Kuwait during the Gulf War, or to take action in the United States after the September 11 attacks.

[9] However, in earlier times, calls to the "nation" were not as important, when religion, monarchy or family might have been invoked more successfully to mobilize action.

"Made in West Germany " on a cassette deck manufactured in the 1980s. Subtle references to the nation like these can be examples of banal nationalism, instilling a sense of pride through everyday items without overt proclamations of love for one's country.
Institutions like Yosemite National Park could be interpreted as an effective form of banal nationalism: an originally natural geographic phenomenon is actively delimited, institutionalized and styled as an item of national importance by political act. This way, the abstract idea of America becomes tangible in ordinary life.
The Pledge of Allegiance in the United States is one of the most overt forms of banal nationalism – most are less obvious.