Banal NationalismMichael Billig presents a major challenge to orthodox conceptions of nationalism in this elegantly written book. While traditional theorizing has tended to the focus on extreme expressions of nationalism, the author turns his attention to the everyday, less visible forms which are neither exotic or remote, he describes as `banal nationalism′. The author asks why people do not forget their national identity. He suggests that in daily life nationalism is constantly flagged in the media through routine symbols and habits of language. Banal Nationalism is critical of orthodox theories in sociology, politics and social psychology for ignoring this core feature of national identity. Michael Billig argues forcefully that with nationalism continuing to be a major ideological force in the contemporary world, it is all the more important to recognize those signs of nationalism which are so familiar that they are easily overlooked. |
From inside the book
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... Group who have given friendly criticism on early drafts. In particular, thanks to: Malcolm Ashmore, Derek Edwards, Mike Gane, Celia Kitzinger, Dave Middleton, Mike Pickering and Jonathan Potter. Also, I would like to thank Peter Golding ...
... Group who have given friendly criticism on early drafts. In particular, thanks to: Malcolm Ashmore, Derek Edwards, Mike Gane, Celia Kitzinger, Dave Middleton, Mike Pickering and Jonathan Potter. Also, I would like to thank Peter Golding ...
Page 13
... groups". The Belgian government had hoped that the existing arrangements for devolution would have enabled "Belgium to survive more or less intact" (Guardian, 14 July 1994). The item is revealing both for what it reported, and for what ...
... groups". The Belgian government had hoped that the existing arrangements for devolution would have enabled "Belgium to survive more or less intact" (Guardian, 14 July 1994). The item is revealing both for what it reported, and for what ...
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... groups, are fragile compromises, which might be torn apart by the next set of crises and insecurities (Connor, 1978, 1993). This way of thinking is not new. In the eighteenth century, Herder and Fichte were declaring that the basis of a ...
... groups, are fragile compromises, which might be torn apart by the next set of crises and insecurities (Connor, 1978, 1993). This way of thinking is not new. In the eighteenth century, Herder and Fichte were declaring that the basis of a ...
Page 19
... group loyalties are instances of nationalism, but, as Ernest Gellner has argued, nationalism belongs to the era of nation-states. There can be no nationalism without nation-states; and, thus, nationalism, as a way of depicting community ...
... group loyalties are instances of nationalism, but, as Ernest Gellner has argued, nationalism belongs to the era of nation-states. There can be no nationalism without nation-states; and, thus, nationalism, as a way of depicting community ...
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... groups have nationalist struggles, such as in Northern Ireland, and sometimes the same groups do not, as in Scotland. Sometimes language is a symbol of nationalist aspirations, as in Quebec. Sometimes it is not: there appear to be few ...
... groups have nationalist struggles, such as in Northern Ireland, and sometimes the same groups do not, as in Scotland. Sometimes language is a symbol of nationalist aspirations, as in Quebec. Sometimes it is not: there appear to be few ...
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
Remembering Banal Nationalism 377 | 37 |
National Identity in the World of Nations | 60 |
Flagging the Homeland Daily | 93 |
Postmodernity and Identity | 128 |
Philosophy as a Flag for the Pax Americana | 154 |
Concluding Remarks | 174 |
References | 178 |
Name Index | 193 |
Subject Index | 199 |
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Common terms and phrases
according American appear argued assumed audience banal banal nationalism become boundaries Britain British called Cambridge century Chapter citizens claim consciousness contemporary context continue created critics culture daily deixis described discourse distinction established ethnic Europe example exist familiar flag force foreign forgetting French global Guardian habits hegemony homeland hopes idea ideology imagined important independence individual interests language liberal linguistic live London major means merely movements nation-state national identity nationalist nationhood natural newspapers ourselves particular party patriotic patterns person philosophy political politicians postmodern present President Press psychological readers represent rhetoric Rorty Rorty's routine seek seems seen sense social society sort speak speakers speech sporting stereotypes story suggested symbols talking tend term territory themes theory thinking tradition United universal waved whole world of nations writes