A Contested Nation: History, Memory and Nationalism in Switzerland, 1761-1891 (Past and Present Publications) [Paperback]

Oliver Zimmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 27, 2007 | Series: Past and Present Publications

Oliver Zimmer examines the ways in which the Swiss defined their national identity in the nineteenth century, in the face of a changing domestic and international background. Zimmer explores why the nation became the focus of public concern at particular historical junctures, how different social actors created and re-created Swiss nationhood, and why the Swiss embraced some definitions rather than others. Beginning in the 1760s, which witnessed the genesis of an early national movement, the book ends in the 1890s when Switzerland developed into a modern nation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Zimmer's thorough reading across the theoretical canon makes A Contested Nation a highly relevant text not just for scholars interested in Switzerland, but for anybody working within the broader domains of nation formation... His illuminating and carefully argued book makes a significant contribution to the study of nation formation and finally introduces Switzerland to the set of themes that have dominated the history of European nineteenth century more generally." H-German (H-Net)

"Zimmer enters into the tangled discussions of nationalism and nation-building with confidence and flair...His book represents a model of close historical research into the political and social conflicts of a state, linked to careful linguistic analysis of participants' statements. It is a model that future scholars of nationalism would do well to emulate." Celia Applegate, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

Book Description

This book examines the ways in which the Swiss defined their national identity in the long nineteenth century, in the face of a changing domestic and international background. It explores why the nation became a theme of public concern at particular historical junctures, how different social actors created and re-created Swiss nationhood, and why they embraced some definitions rather than others. The book's narrative begins in the 1760s, which witnessed the genesis of an early national movement, and ends in the 1890s when Switzerland had developed into a modern nation.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (August 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521039800
• ISBN-13: 978-0521039802
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,948,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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