The Cultural Foundations of Nations: Hierarchy, Covenant, and Republic - Softcover

Smith, Anthony D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1405177985 ISBN 13: 9781405177986

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 2008

Synopsis

This major new work by Professor Anthony D. Smith challenges the notion of nationalism as a product of modernity.

• Major new work by a leading historical sociologist
• Challenges the prevailing idea of nationalism as a product of modernity
• Demonstrates that different political forms of community and collective identity from pre-modern times have contributed to the formation and character of nations
• Analyzes the chronology and nature of nations, from the ancient world, to the European Middle Ages, the early modern, and the modern eras
• Discusses alternative destinies facing modern nations today

About this title

About the Author

Anthony D. Smith is President of the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is author of numerous works on nationalism including The Ethnic Origins of Nations (Blackwell, 1986), Chosen Peoples: Sacred Sources of National Identity (2003) and The Antiquity of Nations (2004). He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Nations and Nationalism.

From the Back Cover

This major new work by Professor Anthony D. Smith challenges the notion of nationalism as a product of modernity. In a startling rejection of current orthodoxies, he demonstrates that different political forms of community and collective identity from pre-modern times have contributed to the formation of nations and determined the varied character of nations and nationalisms. His ideas derive from a life-time's learning, distilled here into a concise, clear argument for scholars and novices alike.

Professor Smith identifies three main cultural traditions of antiquity: hierarchy, covenant and civic republic. He argues that these distinctive traditions retained their hold over the European educated classes from England to Russia and from Sweden to Spain. He analyzes the chronology and nature of nations, from the ancient world, to the European Middle Ages, the early modern, and the modern eras. He ends with a discussion of the alternative destinies facing modern nations as a result of their often multi-stranded character.

Professor Smith identifies three main cultural traditions of antiquity: hierarchy, covenant and civic republic. He argues that these distinctive traditions retained their hold over the European educated classes from England to Russia and from Sweden to Spain. He analyzes the chronology and nature of nations, from the ancient world, to the European Middle Ages, the early modern, and the modern eras. He ends with a discussion of the alternative destinies facing modern nations as a result of their often multi-stranded character.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1405177985
• ISBN 13: 9781405177986
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 262