ABSTRACT

This new collection of key authors on nationalism presents the latest thinking on this fundamental aspect of Politics, International Relations and Sociology.

John Breuilly, Walker Connor, Steven Grosby, Eric Hobsbawm, Anthony D Smith and Pierre van den Berghe comprehensively explain and address the key contemporary question in nationalism studies of  'when is the nation?' , or what point in a nation's history is it born, with authority and freshness. Our world is still deeply imbedded in the language and practice of nations and nationalism and they remain central parts in understanding human society. This comparison and contrast of the main approaches 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 insight into specific nations and national groups, including The United States, 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.

 

part I|128 pages

Theoretical issues

chapter |7 pages

Modernism

Introduction

chapter 1|25 pages

Dating the nation

How old is an old nation?

chapter |5 pages

Primordialism

Introduction

chapter 4|6 pages

Comment on Steven Grosby

The primordial, kinship and nationality

chapter |5 pages

Ethno-symbolism

Introduction

chapter 5|19 pages

The genealogy of nations

An ethno-symbolic approach

chapter 6|6 pages

Ethnies and nations

Genealogy indeed

part II|84 pages

Case studies

chapter 8|20 pages

When was the first new nation?

Locating America in a national context

chapter 9|19 pages

When, what and how is the nation?

Lessons from Greece

chapter 10|16 pages

Nationalism and the politics of ethnicity in Fiji

Critical perspectives on primordialism, modernism and ethno-symbolism

chapter |7 pages

Conclusion

So, when is the nation?