Customer Reviews

Ethnonationalism

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Walker Connor has been writing about ethnonationalism for decades. This is a much needed collection of his essays. They are well written and closely argued. The importance of his arguments for understanding ethnic conflicts in today's world can scarcely be overstated. If you believe that ethnicity and ethnic conflict can be explained by such easily defined things as differences in language, religion, or skin color, you must read this book

I originally read Ethnonationalism in an international relations course. Since then, I've kept using it as a focal point in conversation. This is THE book that best explains how we group ourselves.....most often not identifying ourselves as members of a nation/state. We seek religious grouping; language identification; regional ties and history.....It explains much about the Middle East. I lived there for several years and had struggled to explain to peers Stateside why we can't win a war there. The U.S. thinks like a 'nation team,' but that's not how much of the world operates. No matter how angry Arabs are with one another, we Americans are on a concentric circle far outside the bonds that hold Arabs together. Walker Connor explains this, and much else. Language propaganda, and regionalism are only two of the other essential topics of import.

After reading Connor's book I find nationalism both roughly definable and I am convinced about its importance, but I am less certain about the reliability of explanations based on nationalism and even more so of the utility of stydying nationalism to find good and feasible policy recommendations

It is an extraordinary compilation about what the author says the other authors did not say. I just read NATIONAL IDENTITY from Anthony D. Smith, and it cannot be compared. Smith also talks about ethnonationalism, but in a better way. Connor does not say something new, nor interesting. And also, it is a compilation of papers previously published. Roberto Remes