Customer Reviews

National Identity (Ethnonationalism Comparative Perspective)

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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.

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.

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.

This is a very good book which clarifies very well the complex phenomenon of nationalism and in particular national identity. What I find particularly fascinating in Smith's research and style is his quite unique position between what I find a bit too convenient the modernist approach which is too positivistic in my opinion, and on the other hand a nationalist position which is typically too naive.
The item I got was in perfect condition. Very pleased.

I liked. Smith writes not only definitions on traditional concepts (like nationalism) but also introduces an interesting analysis about ethnonationalism. I do not agree in some coments (like his concept of "lateral ethnic communities"), but it is still a good book. Roberto Remes