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Nationalism
A defining force in world history, nationalism remains an inescapable feature of a modern condition. It has underpinned the emergence of many states, and the conflict it has often generated has caused enormous suffering, both directly and indirectly. Nationalism remains a powerful influence today; in the former Yugoslavia and the successor states of the Soviet Union it has instigated great violence and attrocity.
In this incisive and provocative book, completed just before his death, Ernest Gellner - described as "one of the last of the great central European polymath intellectuals" by the Financial Times - explores the phenomenon of nationalism, tracing its emergence and roots in the modern industrialized nation state, its links with romanticism and its creation of national myhs. He investigates its various manifestations and reveals how in long established states such as France, it has been relatively benign, while in Eastern Europe in particular - where nationalist feeling preceded the emergence of modern states - its influence has been far more problematic, and at times disastrous. Finally, the book explores the prospects of minimizing the influence of nationalist feeling and cautiously anticipates the possibility of its decline in this decade of continuing atrocities and "ethnic cleansing."
Lucid and direct, Gellner's work combines politics, history, philosophy, and anthropolgy with the multidisciplinary flair for which he was renowned. As nationalism continues to inform contemporary politics, often with vicious and tragic results, Gellner's last words on the subject are essential reading.
In this incisive and provocative book, completed just before his death, Ernest Gellner - described as "one of the last of the great central European polymath intellectuals" by the Financial Times - explores the phenomenon of nationalism, tracing its emergence and roots in the modern industrialized nation state, its links with romanticism and its creation of national myhs. He investigates its various manifestations and reveals how in long established states such as France, it has been relatively benign, while in Eastern Europe in particular - where nationalist feeling preceded the emergence of modern states - its influence has been far more problematic, and at times disastrous. Finally, the book explores the prospects of minimizing the influence of nationalist feeling and cautiously anticipates the possibility of its decline in this decade of continuing atrocities and "ethnic cleansing."
Lucid and direct, Gellner's work combines politics, history, philosophy, and anthropolgy with the multidisciplinary flair for which he was renowned. As nationalism continues to inform contemporary politics, often with vicious and tragic results, Gellner's last words on the subject are essential reading.
130 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
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About the author
Ernest Gellner
56 books105 followersErnest Gellner was a prominent British-Czech philosopher, social anthropologist, and writer on nationalism.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 22, 2012
This book is probably the soundest theory on Nationalism in print. However it is littered with flaws. His definition of a state is not basic but exceptionally post modern and admits in some parts that there are indeed imperfections within his statements and admits to over looking them (think about Greece and the Balkans as being industrialized). Further the history of the Balkan region is oversimplified and tragically off.
March 2, 2014
Excellent introduction on the studies of nationalism from a modernist perspective.
August 30, 2021
Nationalism is a good introduction to Gellner's theory of nationalism. To be clear, this is not a general introduction to nationalism. Apart from discussing his widely acclaimed modernist interpretation of nationalism, Gellner also engages with some arguments against his theory. In so doing, he locates and clarifies his intellectual position on nationalism. At the beginning of the book, he prepares the ground for his theory by discussing history of mankind as well as the role of culture and social organization in human societies over time.
Nationalism, according to Gellner, is mainly a product of industrialization. It is the homogenizing imperative of industrial economy that facilitates the emergence of nationalism in a society. He stresses the necessities of industrial society, such as general education for the development of manpower, the necessity of semantic/uniform communication for efficiency, creation of high culture as distinct from folk culture and so forth, as conducive to the formation of nationalism. He is careful not to deny the genuine passion that nationalist sentiments arouse. However, nationalist sentiments are not evenly shared in a plural society and the boundaries/symbols/narratives of nationalism are subject to contestation.
His chapters on Marxism, Islam and Nationalism are particularly interesting. His discusses the decline of Marxism and the ascendance of Islam in the modern world, where secularization was supposed to have prevailed. For Gellner, Islam is marked by "a high level of modernity" (monotheism, low load of magic, non-mediation, transcendentalism) which make it adaptable to the modern world unlike Marxism which is characterized by "total modernity" (elimination of sacred/profane bifurcation, sacralization of this mundane world) which does not satisfy the prevalent social conditions. Islam, in this view, can be a competitor to nationalism but nationalism may also work hand-in-glove with any religion. In the latter case, religion is often invoked in nationalist assertions as as form of identity rather than as a matter of dogma.
Gellner opposes any enlightened preaching against nationalism. He argues that some places and people simply need nationalism more than others. In the last chapter, he teases out some practical implications of the understanding of nationalism. Before effecting any radical change inspired by nationalism, he underlines that nationalist movements or any government should be guided by considerations such as stability/continuity, affluence/economic growth, de-fetishization of land, acceptance of pluralism, balance between centralization and decentralization, and so forth.
Nationalism, according to Gellner, is mainly a product of industrialization. It is the homogenizing imperative of industrial economy that facilitates the emergence of nationalism in a society. He stresses the necessities of industrial society, such as general education for the development of manpower, the necessity of semantic/uniform communication for efficiency, creation of high culture as distinct from folk culture and so forth, as conducive to the formation of nationalism. He is careful not to deny the genuine passion that nationalist sentiments arouse. However, nationalist sentiments are not evenly shared in a plural society and the boundaries/symbols/narratives of nationalism are subject to contestation.
His chapters on Marxism, Islam and Nationalism are particularly interesting. His discusses the decline of Marxism and the ascendance of Islam in the modern world, where secularization was supposed to have prevailed. For Gellner, Islam is marked by "a high level of modernity" (monotheism, low load of magic, non-mediation, transcendentalism) which make it adaptable to the modern world unlike Marxism which is characterized by "total modernity" (elimination of sacred/profane bifurcation, sacralization of this mundane world) which does not satisfy the prevalent social conditions. Islam, in this view, can be a competitor to nationalism but nationalism may also work hand-in-glove with any religion. In the latter case, religion is often invoked in nationalist assertions as as form of identity rather than as a matter of dogma.
Gellner opposes any enlightened preaching against nationalism. He argues that some places and people simply need nationalism more than others. In the last chapter, he teases out some practical implications of the understanding of nationalism. Before effecting any radical change inspired by nationalism, he underlines that nationalist movements or any government should be guided by considerations such as stability/continuity, affluence/economic growth, de-fetishization of land, acceptance of pluralism, balance between centralization and decentralization, and so forth.
October 19, 2021
Not an introductiory book on nationalism, as the title might imply, but a great read nonetheless. Gellner's almost literary style makes the academic book a thrilling read, although it reqires a lot of background knowledge on nationalism to understand the ideas.
December 25, 2024
To be honest I didn’t finish it. Obviously, Gellner is absolutely correct about nationalism being a fairly recent phenomenon and a product od the industrial revolution. I would even go as far as to say that the chapters on the connection between capitalism and industrialism and his analysis of agricultural societies are insightful. However, the rest of the book is just historical idealist drivel. Gellner rejects Marx (who he absolutely does not understand) snd his book is worse off for it, incomplete. Apparently, both the liberal and marxist ideas of nationalism are wrong. Gellner proves that with a strange and confusing diatribe about how when it rains puddles form. Once I got to the chapter about romanticism and englightement, I completely checked out.
February 22, 2025
Picked this up for a class and took my time with it even though it’s quite short.
To be honest, I feel like this book makes many generalisations and (in some cases) oversimplfies certain theories. Despite that aspect, I think it’s a solid read on nationalism - especially for someone who’s new to the topic!
To be honest, I feel like this book makes many generalisations and (in some cases) oversimplfies certain theories. Despite that aspect, I think it’s a solid read on nationalism - especially for someone who’s new to the topic!
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October 18, 2022Ngl this was actually rlly good.
September 13, 2016
CZ/ENG
Dle mého soudu skvělá analýza původu nacionalismu (i v tom pozitivním slova smyslu), jeho podmínkách a důsledcích. Také spojen s komparativní analýzou s Marxismem nebo Islámem, jako ukázkami tendencí jdoucích proti nacionalismu. Závěrem nechybí ani zhodnocení českého nacionalismu v Masarykově nebo Patočkově pojetí (s větičkou i o Klausově pojetí ač explicitně tam zmíněn není).
A very inspiring analysis of nationalism and its origins. The European tradition of nationalism is compared also to its two recent oppositions - Marxism and Islam. Certainly worth reading if you are interested in history and national narratives.
Dle mého soudu skvělá analýza původu nacionalismu (i v tom pozitivním slova smyslu), jeho podmínkách a důsledcích. Také spojen s komparativní analýzou s Marxismem nebo Islámem, jako ukázkami tendencí jdoucích proti nacionalismu. Závěrem nechybí ani zhodnocení českého nacionalismu v Masarykově nebo Patočkově pojetí (s větičkou i o Klausově pojetí ač explicitně tam zmíněn není).
A very inspiring analysis of nationalism and its origins. The European tradition of nationalism is compared also to its two recent oppositions - Marxism and Islam. Certainly worth reading if you are interested in history and national narratives.
November 15, 2009
It was quite good however I wouldnt recommend it as an introduction to nationalism. I did learn alot about how and why nationalism works and doesnt work.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews