ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses progressive nationalism, arguing that it does not adequately grasp the economic and social processes of capitalism today: more specifically, the articulation between 'the national' and 'the global', and the central role of labour. The focus is on progressive nationalism's theoretical weaknesses, but the critique is supported by reference to empirical evidence and policy debates. The chapter summarises the progressive nationalist arguments on their own terms, and looks at the validity of their empirical claims about globalisation. On this foundation, it develops the critique by examining their theoretical approach to the state and to the world economy. The chapter addresses the omission of labour from the progressive nationalist approach. The most influential progressive nationalist writers very largely omit labour from their analysis of capitalism; this removes from consideration what is potentially the most important foundation for an internationalist challenge to the neoliberal ideology of globalisation.
