Nationalism and Modernism

by Anthony D. Smith

The first major study in over three decades to explore the essential arguments of all the major theoretical interpretations of nationalism, from the modernist approaches of Gellner, Nairn, Breuilly, Giddens and Hobsbawm to the alternative paradigms of van den Bergh and Geertz, Armstrong and Smith himself.
In a style accessible to the student and the general reader Smith traces the changing view of this hotly discussed topic within the current political, cultural and socioeconomic arena. He also analyses the contributions of such historians, sociologists and political scientists as Seton-Watson, Reynolds, Hastings, Horowitz and Brass. The survey concludes with an analysis of post-modern approaches to national identity, gender and nation, making it indispensable reading to all those interested in gaining full and authoritative knowledge of nationalism.

Genres: History, Politics, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Academic, Political Science, Social Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Anthony D. Smith was Professor Emeritus of Nationalism and Ethnicity at the London School of Economics, and is considered one of the founders of the interdisciplinary field of nationalism studies. His best-known contributions to the field are the distinction between 'civic' and 'ethnic' types of nations and nationalism, and the idea that all nations have dominant 'ethnic cores'. While Smith agreed with other authors that nationalism is a modern phenomenon, he insisted that nations have pre-modern origins.

Reviews

[Billy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Nationalism and Modernism, Anthony Smith provides a critical survey and evaluation of the classical modernist theories of nationalism. The first portion of the book focuses on the foremost varieties of the modernist paradigm, honing in specifically on the theories of figures such as Gellner, Hechter, Hobsbawm and Anderson. The main body of the text is dedicated to critiquing these theories through the lens of primordial, perennial and ethno-symbolist variations of nationalism. The latter portion of the book, albeit very brief, discusses postmodern approaches to nationalism, ranging from multiculturalism to feminism to supranationalism. The brevity of this final part I found to be a slight limitation to the text; Smith seems to nonchalantly curtail this section. Nevertheless, he provides a cogent and fairly accessible text on a much discussed subject.

Smith outlines and assesses the premise of each classical approach, offers a lucid critique, divulges and explores what he sees as a viable alternative, and finally reviews a new development within the field. Although, given this was published in 1998, how 'new' these developments are now is questionable. The prose can be very dry but, like a Ryvita cracker or some beef jerky, its wholesome stuff and good for you.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first major study in over three decades to explore the essential arguments of all the major theoretical interpretations of nationalism, from the modernist approaches of Gellner, Nairn, Breuilly, Giddens and Hobsbawm to the alternative paradigms of van den Bergh and Geertz, Armstrong and Smith himself. In a style accessible to the student and the general reader Smith traces the changing view of this hotly discussed topic within the current political, cultural and socioeconomic arena. He also analyses the contributions of such historians, sociologists and political scientists as Seton-Watson, Reynolds, Hastings, Horowitz and Brass. The survey concludes with an analysis of post-modern approaches to national identity, gender and nation, making it indispensable reading to all those interested in gaining full and authoritative knowledge of nationalism.

[Stoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good as a perennialist-perspective introduction/overview