ABSTRACT
The apparent contradictions between what is seen as Marxist theory and contemporary communist practice have raised some doubts as to the future of communism. Nationalism and communism are historically distinct movements. Nationalism, then, must be viewed in its historical perspective as an idea that emerged in direct response to a particular set of political and economic conditions existing within western Europe. Nationalism was a liberal idea at its inception and has always been an integral part of democracy. The benign liberal version of nationalism eventually developed into more pathological forms because the nationalist cause can be invoked by any group with a national grievance. The picture of nationalism that has emerged thus far is that of a mobilization myth comprising some fundamental ideological principles that have manifested themselves in an infinite variety of forms. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
