Modern Roots: Studies of National Identity / Edition 1

by Alain Dieckhoff, Natividad Gutiérrez

Overview

Interest in the study of national identity as a collective phenomenon is a growing concern among the social and political sciences. This book addresses the scholarly interest in examining the origins of ideologies and social practices that give historical meaning, cohesion and uniqueness to modern national communities. It focuses on the various routes taken towards the construction of cultural authenticity as an inspirational purpose of nation-building and reveals the diversity of the themes, practices and symbols used to encourage self-identification and communality. Among the techniques explored are the dramatization of suffering and tragedy, the exaltation of heroes and deeds, the evocation of landscape, nature and the arts and the delimitation of collective values to be pursued during reconstruction in post-war periods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780754611523
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/21/2001
Series:	In association with ICCR Contemporary Trends in European Social Sciences
Pages:	318
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.62(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alain Dieckhoff, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Internationales, France Natividad Gutiérrez, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

Table of Contents

Contents: Introduction: The study of national identity, Natividad Gutiérrez. Dimensions of National Identity: Interpretations of national identity, Anthony D. Smith; Theories of national personality revisited: Anglo-American models and French conceptions, Philippe Claret; National identity and modernity, Montserrat Guibernau. Symbolizing the Nation: Forging the authentic nation: Alpine landscape and Swiss national identity, Oliver Zimmer; Folk culture and the construction of European national identities between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, Anne-Marie Thiese and Catherine Bertho-Lavenir; The shaping of a nation: Catalan history and historicity in Post-Franco Spain, Yolaine Cultiaux. Teaching National Identity: Recreating the French nation: the teaching of history at the École Libre des Sciences Politiques at the end of the nineteenth century, Corinne Delmas; National identity construction and the teacher’s unions of the Germanys and Japan, 1945-1955, Julian Dierkes; Hindu nationalism and the social welfare strategy, Christophe Jaffrelot. Disrupted National Identities: Nationalism and the politics of national identities in Latin America: gender, power and racism, Sallie Westwood; The difficult stabilization of Turkish national identity, Gérard Groc; Between mimesis and rebellion: the vicissitudes of Romanian nationalism, Catherine Durandin. Conclusion: Culture and national identity, Alain Dieckhoff.

Editorial Reviews

’...the volume has been well-selected with a good balance between theory and case studies. The texts are logically arranged, and drawn together well by the introduction and conclusion. Many chapters have been translated from French, making them more widely available...The broad focus and extensive theoretical material mean that most readers will find at least several useful chapters herein.’ The Global Review of Ethnopolitics ’This book will please those who are interested in the theoretical, symbolic, social and conflicting dimensions of nationalism. It combines a certain unity of problematique with a great diversity of topics. The essays are of mixed interest, but they offer a fair sampling of European (and mostly French) research on national identity.’ Nationalism and Ethnic Politics ’...this collection of articles brings some fresh life into understanding national identity.’ Canadian Review of Studies in Nationalism ’...readers of this rich volume will enjoy a piece of work that goes a long way towards helping the social sciences recognize the crucial influence of national structures in the shaping of group identities.’ Intercultural Education ’...an interesting and useful addition...some of the case studies provided here are very illuminating. The book will be of interest to scholars and students in a wide range of academic disciplines and, indeed, it is one that I have recommended to many of my final-year and masters-level students.’ Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development

From the Publisher

Increasing visibility has not made for clarity when it comes to the concept of identity. In 14 papers grouped by the themes of dimensions of national identity, symbolizing the nation, teaching national identity, and disrupted national identities, international academics offer a comparative analysis of the dialectics of change and historical continuity in relation to national and personal identity. Dieckhoff (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Internationales, Paris) concludes that political nationalism cannot be separated from its cultural/ethnic twin. Guti<'e>rrez is at the Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales, U. Nacional Aut<'o>noma de Mexico. Lacks an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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