ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 focuses on foundations of establishing an alternative critical theoretical approach for the analysis of nationalism by engaging with Marx’s concept of nationalism.
The chapter first discusses some key aspects of Marx’s concept of nationalism (Section 3.1). Second, it engages with Edward Said’s criticism of Marx (Section 3.2). Third, some conclusions are drawn (Section 3.3).
Marx critically theorised ideology and practised the ideology critique of religion, bourgeois thought, and capitalism. Marx did not limit the analysis of ideology and fetishism to the economy, but also criticised political fetishisms such as nationalism. Marx stressed key aspects of nationalist ideology that one can still observe in contemporary capitalism.
