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
Results 1-5 of 52
Page 1
... speaking before the Battle of Hastings, exhorted his troops to avenge the spilling of "noble blood" (Anonymous, 1916). To fight for such matters appears 'barbaric', or, worse still, 'mediaeval' in today's balance of priorities. The ...
... speaking before the Battle of Hastings, exhorted his troops to avenge the spilling of "noble blood" (Anonymous, 1916). To fight for such matters appears 'barbaric', or, worse still, 'mediaeval' in today's balance of priorities. The ...
Page 2
... speaking again from his Oval Office, was able to announce victory. He spoke of flags: "Tonight the Kuwaiti flag once again flies above the capital of a free and sovereign nation and the American flag flies above our embassy." Perhaps a ...
... speaking again from his Oval Office, was able to announce victory. He spoke of flags: "Tonight the Kuwaiti flag once again flies above the capital of a free and sovereign nation and the American flag flies above our embassy." Perhaps a ...
Page 9
... speaking as if all nations would (or should) recognize the morality of nationhood - as if this morality were a universal morality. Nationalism in the contemporary world makes universal claims. The talk of a new world order suggests how ...
... speaking as if all nations would (or should) recognize the morality of nationhood - as if this morality were a universal morality. Nationalism in the contemporary world makes universal claims. The talk of a new world order suggests how ...
Page 10
... speak for universal interests, or for the whole world order. The voice of nationalism can employ 'the syntax of hegemony', which claims an 'identity of identities'. If nationalism has become banal in established democracies of the 10 ...
... speak for universal interests, or for the whole world order. The voice of nationalism can employ 'the syntax of hegemony', which claims an 'identity of identities'. If nationalism has become banal in established democracies of the 10 ...
Page 12
... speak for all of 'us'. As such, this philosophy can be considered as an intellectual flag for its place and its times. It is an exemplar of the nationalist philosophy of a new world order, which is being constructed, like the coalition ...
... speak for all of 'us'. As such, this philosophy can be considered as an intellectual flag for its place and its times. It is an exemplar of the nationalist philosophy of a new world order, which is being constructed, like the coalition ...
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
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