Nationalism in Europe, 1890-1940

'This is a superb little book on Nationalism in early 20th Century Europe, full of rich historical materials and penetrating arguments.' - Anthony D. Smith, London School of Economics 'In such a book there will be unavoidable partialities of perspective. ...But the careful astuteness and surefooted intelligence of the argumentation as Zimmer guides the reader through the mindfields of controversy in such immensely complicated literatures can hardly be bettered. Moreover, the account is explicitly and very admirably situated in a particular period of European history. As a result, Zimmer's valuable book succeeds in illuminating a variety of major questions, the character of fascism central among them... It makes an excellent addition to the literature, to be recommended for students and colleagues alike.' - Geoff Eley, English Historical Review

Focusing mainly on East-Central Europe, and discussing such key issues as the modernity of nations and nationalism, and the relationship between nationalism and fascism, Oliver Zimmer offers an incisive examination of the most powerful ideology of modern times.While nationalism had become politically significant well before the late nineteenth century, it was between 1890 and 1940 that it revealed its political explosiveness and destructive potential.

Organised around specific themes, many of which are currently hotly debated among experts in the field, Oliver Zimmer's study discusses such key issues as: the modernity of nations and nationalism, the formation of the nationalising state and the significance of national ritual for modern mass-nations, the ways in which nationalism shaped the treatment of minorities, the relationship between nationalism and fascism, and the perception of nationalism by liberals and socialists. Zimmer's account is more explicitly focused on conceptual issues than most textbooks on the subject, and also more historical and historiographical than many of the existing theoretical overviews. The result is an incisive examination of the most powerful ideology of modern times.