Description

By (author) Mylonas Harris; By (author) Tudor Maya

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Nationalism has long been a normatively and empirically contested concept, associated with democratic revolutions and public goods provision, but also with xenophobia, genocide, and wars. Moving beyond facile distinctions between ”good” and ”bad” nationalisms, the authors argue that nationalism is an empirically variegated ideology. Definitional disagreements, Eurocentric conceptualizations, and linear associations between ethnicity and nationalism have hampered our ability to synthesize insights. This Element proposes that nationalism can be broken down productively into parts based on three key questions: (1) Does a nation exist? (2) How do national narratives vary? (3) When do national narratives matter? The answers to these questions generate five dimensions along which nationalism varies: elite fragmentation and popular fragmentation of national communities; ascriptiveness and thickness of national narratives; and salience of national identities.

Table of contents:
1. Why another nationalism book?; 2. What we already know about nationalism; 3. Does a nation exist? Elite and popular fragmentation; 4. How do national narratives vary? Ascriptiveness and thickness; 5. When do national narratives matter? Salience of national identities; 6. Nationalism across social science disciplines; 7. Conclusion; References.

Review quote:
”No political development in the 21st century is more momentous than the resurgence of fierce nationalisms in many parts of the world. They pose great dangers of bigoted authoritarianism, while providing compelling sources of identity and community for billions of people. Written by two highly accomplished authors, Varieties of Nationalism is the most concise, accessible, yet deeply informed and insightful guide to the origins, elements, and significance of the main forms of nationalism that we have today.” Rogers M. Smith, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania

Review quote:
”These days no one needs convincing that nationalism should be at the center of our political and theoretical reflections: bitter rivals, enthusiastic supporters, agnostics, all wish to unveil the secrets of nationalism in order to understand the sources of its continuous power. With systematic clarity and a handful of experience Harris Mylonas and Maya Tudor help readers navigate the varied terrains of nationalism, explore its many hidden roads, and appreciate the richness of its landscape. This will probably become the best guide for travelers in the age of nationalism. Don”t leave home without it.” Yuli Tamir, President of Beit Berl College, author of Why Nationalism

Review quote:
”The scholarship on nationalism is now vast, spanning many different disciplines and very diverse approaches. In this cacophony of knowledge, it is often difficult to maintain meaningful communication across the disciplines. In this excellent and concise book Mylonas and Tudor bring order to the nationalism studies. They very successfully synthesize the existing scholarship, develop many new insights, and convincingly show that nationalism is a highly varied and variable ideology and political practice.” Siniša Malešević, University College, Dublin and CNAM, Paris

Review quote:
”If the recent resurgence of nationalism in world politics has taught us anything, it is that nationalisms are ever evolving. Who tells a nation”s story and the boundaries of narrative license that social conditions grant matter powerfully to how nationalisms ultimately manifest. Mylonas and Tudor expertly contribute to this narrative turn, defying the usual dualisms and stereotypes that typically dominate discussions of nationalism. A must read for anyone interested in the future direction of nationalism studies.” Aram Hur, The Fletcher Scho