The Nation in History: Historiographical Debates about Ethnicity and Nationalism

by Anthony D. Smith

In the first theoretical analysis of historiographical debates about ethnicity and nationalism, Anthony Smith provides a probing account of historians' assumptions and explanations of nationalism in different historical epochs. Ranging broadly over the contributions and divergent perspectives of historians, political scientists, sociologists, anthropologists and others who have contributed to these fundamental debates, Smith codifies the most cogent responses that have been offered to three defining issues in this area: the nature and origin of the nation and nationalism; the antiquity or modernity of nations and nationalism; and the role of nations and nationalism in historical, and especially recent, social change. Using the examples of Persia, Israel, and Greece for long-term illustrations, Smith also discusses ethnic and national identities in France, Germany, England, Yugoslavia, and elsewhere to illuminate the uses and the meaning of alternative theories, and ends with a convincing case for the value of his own ethno-symbolist approach.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction

122 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Anthony D. Smith was Professor Emeritus of Nationalism and Ethnicity at the London School of Economics, and is considered one of the founders of the interdisciplinary field of nationalism studies. His best-known contributions to the field are the distinction between 'civic' and 'ethnic' types of nations and nationalism, and the idea that all nations have dominant 'ethnic cores'. While Smith agreed with other authors that nationalism is a modern phenomenon, he insisted that nations have pre-modern origins.

Reviews

[frisco - فریسکو · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sono onesto: sicuramente c'entra anche il fatto che preferisco altri autori, e che "l'etnosimbolismo" di A.D. Smith proprio non riesco a concepirlo.
Però questo libro, con tutti i concetti quali "l'ethnie" di Smith stesso, più gli altri delle diverse scuole del dibattito scientifico che Smith si propone di elencare e valutare, è davvero troppo succinto, e dà tante cose per scontate; certamente non è il primo libro da leggere per avvicinarsi all'argomento, così interessante, del nazionalismo, dell'origine delle nazioni, del loro stesso significato, e della costruzione della "mitologia" nazionale.

[Supriyo Chaudhuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting historiography of nationalism covering a lot of ground, organised around three major debates - about the nature of nations (organic and primordial or voluntary and political), origins of nationalism (perennial or modern) and its role in historical change (socially constructed or ethnosymbolic). I found it heavy going in places and wondered how it was delivered as a lecture, with many themes and ideas jostling with one another, but found it useful in writing an essay.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable account of the debate around nationalism and ethnicity among mostly British historians. It's ironic that it has a nationalist focus itself which skews the narrative.