The Construction of Nationhood: Ethnicity, Religion and Nationalism

The Wiles Lectures

by Adrian Hastings

This interdisciplinary book straddles the fields of history, politics, religion and sociology, and medieval and modern history. Its importance lies in its contribution to arguments about the meaning and origin of nationalism, ethnicity and nationhood, and in challenging the widely-accepted "modernist" theories of Eric Hobsbawm, Benedict Anderson and others. Its argument incorporates careful analysis of English, Irish, South Slav and African examples, and suggests finally an important contract between Christianity and Islam.

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

248 pages, 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.

[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.