National Identity (Ethnonationalism Comparative Perspective) [Paperback]

Anthony D. Smith (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: University of Nevada Press; New edition edition (March 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874172047
• ISBN-13: 978-0874172041
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #652,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best account of modern nationalism from Smith, October 10, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Identity (Ethnonationalism Comparative Perspective) (Paperback)

This book contains many ideas propogated by Anthony Smith in many of his other books (i.e., _State and Nation in the Third World_, _The Ethnic Origin of Nations_, _Nations and Nationalism in a Global Era_) but combines them into one short volume.

Smith first focuses on the ethnic past of nations while also pointing out the differences between ethnic groups and modern nations. He moves through a short history of ethnic groups and nations, asking the important question of whether ancient Egypt, Israel and Greece were ethnic nations before examining the medieval cases of England and France. In all cases he puts emphasis on the importance of the homeland, a concept which can hardly be overemphasized in dealing with national identity.

He then moves to a typology of nationalism, claiming that 'nationalism-in-general is merely a lazy historian's escape'. He examines the oft-neglected cultural aspect of nationalism, one that was at its height in nineteenth-century Europe but which has been replaced in the news today by genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Moving on to the impact of colonialism, imperialism and decolonization on the development of national identity, Smith spends a good amount of time on non-European nations like Egypt, Ethiopia and India. He shows again how difficult it is to generalize about nationalism, especially outside Europe.

Finally, Smith looks to the future, asking the inevitable question of whether nations and national identity are doomed. He argues that any attempt to supersede national identity, e.g. the creation of a European identity around the EU, must inevitably draw in so many aspects of national identity that it is merely another form of national identity. Smith claims that, just as national identity has been with us for quite some time, it will remain for a while as well.

A well-argued and concise book.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Erudite, biased, dreary, July 11, 2007

By 

P.K. Ryan "The Ryan Identity" (Albany, NY USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: National Identity (Ethnonationalism Comparative Perspective) (Paperback)

First let me give credit where credit is due; Smith is clearly a top-rate scholar and his knowledge of the subject matter is uncontested. That being said, I found this book to be incredibly dry and somewhat biased. Smith writes in an extremely methodical and academic style that makes for some tough reading. And while he doesn't show outright hostility towards his subject, he makes it clear that he sees nationalism as something of a hindrance to "human progress."

Smith painstakingly scrutinizes the origins, characteristics, and consequences of national identity and it's political manifestation, nationalism. He describes the importance of ethnicity, culture, and common myths and symbols to the nationalist state and also discusses the impact that nationalist ideologies have had on regional and world affairs. He compares this phenemenon to other forms of collective identity and comes to the conclusion that national identity exerts a "more potent and durable influence than any other collective identity" and will continue to do so well into the future. He also discusses possible alternatives to nationalism.

While his descriptions are certainly not wrong, I think the nationalism that Smith describes is an extreme one. As someone who considers himself a nationalist, I certainly don't believe I am part of a "chosen people" and I don't look back to any "golden age." As with any ideology or movement, there are varying degrees of nationalism and Smith really only describes a "fundamentalist" version. Those caveats aside, this is a solid, scholarly work that serves as a valuable introduction to nationalism and natioanl identity.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A compact, but still heavy work, August 23, 2007

By 

Art (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: National Identity (Ethnonationalism Comparative Perspective) (Paperback)

The author has spent much of his academic career exploring the roots and issues involved with nationalism and its philosophical core "national identity". While the work is under 200 pages, it is by no means light reading. It is clearly aimed at the colligate level as a foundational text.

The book is intellectually filling, but the author makes you earn it. The sweeping historical references and numerous analogies hit the mark, but require a good deal of background knowledge.

The author correctly goes beyond the standard Western/European view of nationalism and uses the national identity model to include most of the globe, though his theories start to run a little thin the further one gets from the intellectual reach of the West. The work was published in 1991 and its theories proved correct as ethnic and cultural factors fueled conflict throughout the decade from Bosnia to Rwanda.