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unisonlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Published in 1990. The famous Marxist historian takes up the phenomenon of nationalism. He dates the central theme from 1780 since the concept of nationalism itself is a fairly recent adaptation of old tribal allegiances. In the middle ages and early modern period it was possible for serfs to feel an attachment to their laird or a king but the concept of a nation is relatively new.
Patrie has been manipulated throughout the ages and frequently by governments we would not call nationalist in themselves, but it has helped ruling classes to stoke ethnic tensions and keep the workers in their place. The first part of this book deals with what constitutes a nation and the various ethno-linguistic currents of nationalist movements and how they closely relate to nothing more than myth. The second part contests that nationalism has been a potent force particularly in the twentieth century but is waning. Here the author gives himself over to hope as much as reason seeing technological advances and state reductions coupled with unstoppable waves of migration as the precursor to the inevitable collapse of the nationalist ideology of historic imagined communities. Imagined insofar as they are a curious mixture political construction and false sovereignty. Common language or religion mixed with an ethnic cohesion or historical experience present only an opportunity to create these social artefacts we call nations. From here is produced the imagined community. It was necessary to make Italy before Italians could be made.
Hobsbawm sees nationalism as chauvinism and an opportunity for the reactionary elements in society to seize power. It is this assumption of perversity that runs through the book and gives it its fierce critical element. Nationalism has done little good for the people of the world, and will one day hopefully have its opportunities for damage reduced. Given that the book was written in the aftermath of Soviet collapse there is an element of wishful thinking in the hypothesis. It could be argued that nationalism has grown since 1990, especially in the Balkans where new states had to be created to halt genocide and the general slip of the United States to nationalistic fascism. Hobsbawm does say that the collapse of nationalism will take a long time, and I hope eventually that he is right. For now, although this is a detailed and interesting history of an ideology in which the conclusion is at best a work in progress.
Patrie has been manipulated throughout the ages and frequently by governments we would not call nationalist in themselves, but it has helped ruling classes to stoke ethnic tensions and keep the workers in their place. The first part of this book deals with what constitutes a nation and the various ethno-linguistic currents of nationalist movements and how they closely relate to nothing more than myth. The second part contests that nationalism has been a potent force particularly in the twentieth century but is waning. Here the author gives himself over to hope as much as reason seeing technological advances and state reductions coupled with unstoppable waves of migration as the precursor to the inevitable collapse of the nationalist ideology of historic imagined communities. Imagined insofar as they are a curious mixture political construction and false sovereignty. Common language or religion mixed with an ethnic cohesion or historical experience present only an opportunity to create these social artefacts we call nations. From here is produced the imagined community. It was necessary to make Italy before Italians could be made.
Hobsbawm sees nationalism as chauvinism and an opportunity for the reactionary elements in society to seize power. It is this assumption of perversity that runs through the book and gives it its fierce critical element. Nationalism has done little good for the people of the world, and will one day hopefully have its opportunities for damage reduced. Given that the book was written in the aftermath of Soviet collapse there is an element of wishful thinking in the hypothesis. It could be argued that nationalism has grown since 1990, especially in the Balkans where new states had to be created to halt genocide and the general slip of the United States to nationalistic fascism. Hobsbawm does say that the collapse of nationalism will take a long time, and I hope eventually that he is right. For now, although this is a detailed and interesting history of an ideology in which the conclusion is at best a work in progress.
yekaterina's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
The best book I've read about nationalism so far
rashadmuhammedzadeh's review against another edition
4.0
Əsər marksist yazıçının baxışı ilə "millət" anlayışı və milliyyətçiliyin tarixi inkişafına işıq tutur. Hadisələr xronoloji ardıcıllıqla sistemli şəkildə verilmək əvəzinə, fransız inqilabından sonrakı tarix müxtəlif dövrlərə (1789-1830; 1830-1880; 1880-1918; 1918-1950 və XX əsrin sonu) bölünərək milliyyətçiliyin inkişaf mərhələləri analiz edilir.
Yazıçı B.Anderson və E.Gellner-in millətin sonradan yaranmış məfhum olduğu fikrini qəbul edir və kitab boyunca əsaslandırır. İlk dövrdən indiyə qədər "millət" fikrinin necə dəyişikliyə uğradığı göstərilməklə bərabər, gələcəkdə milliyyətçiliyin hansı rol oynayacağı təhlil edilir.
Ümumilikdə, bəzi yerlərdə çox ümumiləşdirici yanaşmaları istisna olmaqla, bugünkü siyasi həyatda da aktual olan bir fenomenin tarixinə yeni bir baxış gətirməsi baxımından əhəmiyyətli bir kitabdır.
Yazıçı B.Anderson və E.Gellner-in millətin sonradan yaranmış məfhum olduğu fikrini qəbul edir və kitab boyunca əsaslandırır. İlk dövrdən indiyə qədər "millət" fikrinin necə dəyişikliyə uğradığı göstərilməklə bərabər, gələcəkdə milliyyətçiliyin hansı rol oynayacağı təhlil edilir.
Ümumilikdə, bəzi yerlərdə çox ümumiləşdirici yanaşmaları istisna olmaqla, bugünkü siyasi həyatda da aktual olan bir fenomenin tarixinə yeni bir baxış gətirməsi baxımından əhəmiyyətli bir kitabdır.
discobanana's review against another edition
3.0
The vagueness of the subject has found its way into the book's structure. While Hobsbawm is hard to read (I don't mind it personally), it's safe to say, the lack of framework makes this book even harder.
The book nonetheless picks itself around the end, it is worth reading alone to realize how unrealizable the myth that is nationalism is. Hobsbawm rightfully points at several other works & awaits for future analyses & better understandings.
The book nonetheless picks itself around the end, it is worth reading alone to realize how unrealizable the myth that is nationalism is. Hobsbawm rightfully points at several other works & awaits for future analyses & better understandings.
vindex86's review
Fundamental to understanding the evolution of concepts such as nation, people, state and national belonging or identity. The author follows a foucaultian approach on the history of nations and nationalities, showing how the titular terms, i.e. nation and nationalism, mean very different things - and therefore have very different political consequences - at different times in history. The first four chapters are excellent in outlining the birth and development of theories and policies grounded on specific definitions of peoples, states and nations. The fifth chapter deviates slightly from this perspective - the title of the chapter is rather misleading here - being more specifically premised on the interconnections between languages/languaging, national identity or identification and subjectivity. The last chapter is incredibly poignant and ahead of its time - the author is writing in 1992 -in anticipating contemporary political challenges and inter/intra-national issues.
cmoo053's review against another edition
3.0
A well-researched, thorough and clearly structured interrogation into the development of the concept of nationalism. Hobsbawm's ideas are effectively supported through numerous examples. Unfortunately, as expected this was such a dense read, and was fairly dry in its expression. Although relevant (somewhat) to my purpose, this was a tedious read.
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