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Oxford Readers
Nationalism
Achieving prevalence as an ideology in the political and social ferment of late 18th-century Europe and America, nationalism first found expression during the course of such historical upheavals as the American and French Revolutions. Its founders and early sponsors--Rousseau, Herder, Fichte, Korais, and Mazzini--looked to nationalism as the manifestation of modern humanity's most essential aspirations: autonomy, unity, identity. Born of notions regarding popular freedom and sovereignty that had been gathering momentum for generations, it conjured up images of a modernizing West at once hungry for change and yearning for a return to age-old concepts of fraternity and ancient heritage. Since that time nationalism, having taken on countless different dimensions, remains a vital and dynamic force for change--whether for good or otherwise.
Despite only recently becoming the subject of scholarly debate, nationalism has been the focus of a truly prodigious amount of writing. This important Oxford Reader makes the topic more accessible by offering a broad, authoritative treatment of the key contributions to the subject, while giving unprecedented depth to recent debates and issues. Edited by two of the field's most influential scholars, the readings are representative of the vast array of experience and scholarship that have shaped the concept of nationalism for over two centuries. From Ernest Renan's What is a Nation?, written in the 1880s, to the more current views of the 1990s, Nationalism gathers under one cover an impressive array of writing on everything from imagined communities to ethno-regional movements. In no other volume will students of politics, history, sociology, anthropology, international relations, and cultural studies have access to such a definitive appraisal of one of the modern world's most influential--and explosive--ideas.
Despite only recently becoming the subject of scholarly debate, nationalism has been the focus of a truly prodigious amount of writing. This important Oxford Reader makes the topic more accessible by offering a broad, authoritative treatment of the key contributions to the subject, while giving unprecedented depth to recent debates and issues. Edited by two of the field's most influential scholars, the readings are representative of the vast array of experience and scholarship that have shaped the concept of nationalism for over two centuries. From Ernest Renan's What is a Nation?, written in the 1880s, to the more current views of the 1990s, Nationalism gathers under one cover an impressive array of writing on everything from imagined communities to ethno-regional movements. In no other volume will students of politics, history, sociology, anthropology, international relations, and cultural studies have access to such a definitive appraisal of one of the modern world's most influential--and explosive--ideas.
392 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 1994
About the author
John Hutchinson
304 books3 followersLibrarian Note:
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There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 1, 2020
A must read for anyone studying, or with an interest in Nationalism.
This was one of my course books of the University degree I've completed this year.
This was one of my course books of the University degree I've completed this year.
July 27, 2007
The perfect starting point for all interested in nationalism.
October 8, 2023
The Oxford Reader on Nationalism is an essential for any scholar of nationalism, whether seasoned or a newcomer. Two prominent figures in Nationalism studies, Hutchinson and Smith marshal together the standard texts (Gellner, Anderson, Breuilly and Hobsbawm) with engaging insights from other scholars like Charles Tilly, Arend Lijphart, and Nira Yuval-Davis into an indispensable volume that covers various strands in the field.
The book contains abridged works by all these figures and more, arranged categorically, each with a short evaluatory summary of the works contained therein. The only improvement that could be asked for would be for these sections to be longer and a little more critical.
The works contained in the volume themselves vary in quality, with some work from Geertz, Weber, and Smith himself presented without much critical commentary (where they so desperately need it). But even these (in my opinion) weaker insights are very useful and offer a good overview of these scholars' works for any reader looking for an introduction. Even for those well established in the field, the book is a helpful point of reference.
The book contains abridged works by all these figures and more, arranged categorically, each with a short evaluatory summary of the works contained therein. The only improvement that could be asked for would be for these sections to be longer and a little more critical.
The works contained in the volume themselves vary in quality, with some work from Geertz, Weber, and Smith himself presented without much critical commentary (where they so desperately need it). But even these (in my opinion) weaker insights are very useful and offer a good overview of these scholars' works for any reader looking for an introduction. Even for those well established in the field, the book is a helpful point of reference.
December 28, 2020
The Oxford Reader on Nationalism is an essential for any scholar of nationalism, whether seasoned or a newcomer. Two prominent figures in Nationalism studies, Hutchinson and Smith marshal together the standard texts (Gellner, Anderson, Breuilly and Hobsbawm) with engaging insights from other scholars like Charles Tilly, Arend Lijphart, and Nira Yuval-Davis into an indispensable volume that covers various strands in the field.
The book contains abridged works by all these figures and more, arranged categorically, each with a short evaluatory summary of the works contained therein. The only improvement that could be asked for would be for these sections to be longer and a little more critical.
The works contained in the volume themselves vary in quality, with some work from Geertz, Weber, and Smith himself presented without much critical commentary (where they so desperately need it). But even these (in my opinion) weaker insights are very useful and offer a good overview of these scholars' works for any reader looking for an introduction. Even for those well established in the field, the book is a helpful point of reference.
The book contains abridged works by all these figures and more, arranged categorically, each with a short evaluatory summary of the works contained therein. The only improvement that could be asked for would be for these sections to be longer and a little more critical.
The works contained in the volume themselves vary in quality, with some work from Geertz, Weber, and Smith himself presented without much critical commentary (where they so desperately need it). But even these (in my opinion) weaker insights are very useful and offer a good overview of these scholars' works for any reader looking for an introduction. Even for those well established in the field, the book is a helpful point of reference.
January 31, 2014
Excellent primer on nationalism, particularly modernist theories about nationalism. Largely easy to follow for most people and Smith eases in the theory gradually.
Smith subscribes to an ethno-symbolist theory of nationalism and there is a predictable bias to that model, but he deals other models with respect.
Smith subscribes to an ethno-symbolist theory of nationalism and there is a predictable bias to that model, but he deals other models with respect.
May 28, 2007
Re-reading this book from my geopolitics course in college. Great excerpts of essays on nationalism.
November 9, 2012
If one wants to look at the work around Nationalism, this is a simple and good book to begin with. Not a comprehensive book but gives a birds eye view of the scholarship around Nationalism
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews