When is the nation? : towards an understanding of theories of nationalism / edited by Atsuko Ichijo and Gordana Uzelac.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Ichijo, Atsuko, 1967-

Uzelac, Gordana, 1966-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nationalism.

Physical Description:

ix, 224 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2005.

Summary:

This new collection of the key authors on nationalism delivers the latest thinking on the fundamental aspect of politics, sociology and international relations - nations and nationalism.

John Breuilly, Walker Connor, Steven Grosby, Eric Hobsbawm, Anthony D. Smith and Pierre van den Berghe comprehensively explain the key theoretical question in nationalism studies of 'when is the nation?', that is, 'in what point of history is a nation born?' In a world still imbued with the language and practices of nationalism, this is a pertinent question, to which main theories give different answers. The comparison and contrast of these main approaches in the volume not only offers an overview of the state of theoretical debates but also reveals their strengths and weaknesses. This new text: introduces the main schools of thought with clarity and concision, tackles the most pertinent questions in nationalism, delivers both theoretical and empirical perspectives, uses an innovative new interactive debate format with questions and answers, presents key case studies bringing theory to life.

The inclusion of case studies gives the reader fresh insights into specific nations and national groups, including the USA, Greece, England and Fiji. The accessible debate format puts main theories and thinkers to the test, enabling the reader to interact with the issues directly. This unique volume is an invaluable resource for students and scholars of nationalism, ethnicity and global conflict.

Contents:

Part I Theoretical issues 7

Modernism

1 Dating the nation: how old is an old nation? / John Breuilly 15

2 The dawning of nations / Walker Connor 40

Primordialism

3 The primordial, kinship and nationality / Steven Grosby 56

4 Comment on Steven Grosby: the primordial, kinship and nationality / Eric Hobsbawm 79

Ethno-symbolism

5 The genealogy of nations: an ethno-symbolic approach / Anthony D. Smith 94

6 Ethnies and nations: genealogy indeed / Pierre L. Van Den Berghe 113

7 When was the English nation? / Krishan Kumar 137

8 When was the first new nation? Locating America in a national context / Susan-Mary Grant 157

9 When, what and how is the nation? Lessons from Greece / Anna Triandafyllidou 177

10 Nationalism and the politics of ethnicity in Fiji: critical perspectives on primordialism, modernism and ethno-symbolism / Stephanie Lawson 196

Conclusion: so, when is the nation? / Gordana Uzelac, Atusko Ichijo 212.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0415354935

0415361214

OCLC:

57506554