ABSTRACT

The metaphor of the family is prominent in popular representations of nations and nationalism. In the familial metaphor, the nation is embodied by maternal figures like Bharat Mata or Mother Russia and founding fathers like George Washington or Mahatma Gandhi. The nation’s citizens are its devoted and obedient children. The function of mother and father figures in the national imaginary has been the subject of much scholarly analysis. However, the trope of the uncle figure in the familial metaphor has been underexamined. Uncles are often also important national figures – consider ‘Uncle Joe’ Stalin, Uncle Sam or ‘Chachaji’ Nehru. In modern political culture, the uncle trope is used to represent a gentler, non-threatening manifestation of the nation in contrast to the powerful figure of the father. The uncle trope is mobilized in nationalist discourse to soften the image of the state’s authority – a move I call ‘avuncular nationalism’.