Nationalism: A Very Short Introduction

Front Cover
OUP Oxford, Sep 8, 2005 - Political Science - 160 pages
This book examines the political and moral challenges that face the vast majority of human beings who consider themselves to be members of various nations. It explores nationality through the difficulties and conflicts that have arisen throughout history, and discusses nations and nationalism from social, philosophical, and anthropological perspectives. In this fascinating Very Short Introduction, Steven Grosby looks at the nation in history, the territorial element in nationality, and the complex ways nationality has co-existed with religion, and shows how closely linked the concept of nationalism is with being human. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
 

Contents

1 The problem
1
2 What is a nation?
7
3 The nation as social relation
27
4 Motherland fatherland and homeland
43
5 The nation in history
57
6 Whose god is mightier?
80
7 Human divisiveness
98
8 Conclusion
116
References
121
Further reading
132
Index
135
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About the author (2005)

Steven Grosby is Professor of Religion at Clemson University. His publications include: Biblical Ideas of Nationality: Ancient and Modern, The calling of Education: The Academic Ethic and Other Essays on Higher Education, and The Theory of Objective mind: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Culture.

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