Nationalism

Why do we live in nations, and why are we willing to die for them? Essential reading on how historians and others have tried to answer these questions from the nineteenth century to the present.

Examines the historiography of nationalism from 1850 to discover why the ubiquitous phenomena of nations and nationalism have proved so intangible and why so many conflicting theories are being advanced. This book argues that theories and explanations of nationalism have been inextricably linked to contemporary political concerns.

Massive changes have taken place in the way nations and nationalism are thought about. From being viewed enthusiastically by historians as a force for beneficial change before the First World War, today appeals to 'national' sentiment are viewed as far more complex and problematic.

This book looks at how historians (and others, such as sociologists and political theorists) have explained the development, and enduring importance, of national identities from c.1850 to the present day. It compares and contrasts a wide range of different theories, and will be useful for anyone wanting to equip themselves with a theoretical understanding of why we live in nations, and why we invest them with such significance.