La construcción de las nacionalidades: Etnicidad, religión y nacionalismo

The Wiles Lectures

by Adrian Hastings

The Construction of Nationhood is a thorough re-analysis of both nationalism and nations. In particular it challenges the current 'modernist' orthodoxies of such writers as Eric Hobsbawm, Benedict Anderson and Ernest Gellner, and it offers a systematic critique of Hobsbawm's best-selling Nations and Nationalism since 1780. In opposition to a historiography which limits nations and nationalism to the eighteenth century and after, as an aspect of 'modernisation', Professor Hastings argues for a medieval origin to both, dependent upon biblical religion and the development of vernacular literatures. While theorists of nationhood have paid mostly scant attention to England, the development of the nation-state is seen here as central to the subject, but the analysis is carried forward to embrace many other examples, including Ireland, the South Slavs and modern Africa, before concluding with an overview of the impact of religion, contrasting Islam with Christianity, while evaluating the ability of each to support supra-national political communities.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Religion, Philosophy, Cultural

Paperback

First published November 6, 1997

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A controversial take on nationalism- emphasizes role of religion, the vernacular, especially the Bible. Dude used to be a priest. Challenges those Marxists and their modernism- silly folk, he thinks, of course. Worth it for his notable scholarship on church history that allows him a perspective on the formation of nations not often found in present day scholars, who do not tend to be versed in tne nuances of Latin and the inner workings of the church. I mean, I've got to be honest- the majority of this book drove me insane- I'd skip chapter 2 unless you'd like to read a windbaggy version of "Rule Britannia," and he makes silly assertions throughout the whole thing- that France was a unified nation of all classes prior to the Revolution, for instance. But the religious stuff he weaves in is interesting. Probably only worth reading if you're really into nationalism scholarship. Or still believe Queen Victoria is alive.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very different to read actual adults addressing these topics instead of disinfo agents.

[Joseph Sverker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and somewhat provocative book in that Hastings argues very convincingly that Christianity drove the development of nation states. It was not a product of modernity. For someone like me this is a rather hard pill to swallow, but it also makes sense with the arguments Hastings puts forward. At the same time, he does not say that there is something inevitable in Christianity that makes it develop nation states. There are other resources in that theology and he lifts the free churches as, at times at least, a critique of nationalism. Well worth a read, although the focus on England and the British isles are not always that interesting to me.

[Prime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimately unsuccessful in persuading the reader of its thesis. Too focused on vernacular and linguistic history rather than the systematic construction of nationhood by agents of authority. Boring in parts. Nonetheless interesting points on the Bible as the origin of nationalism.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the chapter on Africa as an introduction to the historiography around the treatment of religion in African

[J.M. Hushour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. A badly-needed, tentative critical look at the Hobsbawm/Anderson nationalist-modernist school. Taking England as a prototype, Hastings shows how ideas of nationhood go back waaaay further in time in many places than H/A give credit for. Has the beginnings of the religious/nationalist conjunction and the relevance of this. Recommended for scholars/aspiring scholars who don't like blindly aping their predecessors.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome - one of the more interesting revisionist takes on nationalism. Challenges Hobsbawm, Benedict Anderson and Ernest Gellner; posit that nations began to form much earlier than they believe to be so; mainly focuses on England and the role of literature and religion in forming the idea of nation before 1780.

[Raully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a book about nationalism that is able to discuss religion intelligently! Very helpful for sorting out some things in my head for the dissertation.