Debating Nationalism: The Global Spread of Nations

This concise introduction offers an overview of the global rise and spread of nationalism since the late 18th century. Reflecting on key themes and scholarship it presents case studies and primary sources to track the emergence of the modern nation, and understand how nationalism has given rise to phenomena such as identity-based conflict, authoritarian politics and populist movements.

Debating Nationalism goes beyond a European focus to explore how nationalism has led to the emergence of nation states, ethnic conflict and how it is expressed everyday over the last 300 years. It engages with key debates such as the origins of nations and the dynamics of ethnic conflict and uses a historical lens to shed light on contemporary issues around migration, diversity and authoritarian politics.

This updated and revised edition includes updates on recent developments and the latest literature with additional material throughout, covering the rise of the far-right, Covid-19, Russian aggression against Ukraine and the war in Gaza, and topics including everyday nationalism, culture, minority nationalist politics, gender, and post-colonial authoritarianism. With new further reading sections, a dedicated chapter as a guide to key debates and a glossary of terms, this book offers students a holistic understanding of the history of nationalism.

Peter N. Stearns is Professor Emeritus in the Dept of History at George Mason University. His most recent publications include, as author, Cultural Change in Modern World History (Bloomsbury, 2018), Peacebuilding Through Dialogue (Virginia, 2018), Shame: A Brief History (Illinois, 2017), Sexuality in World History, Ed.II (Routledge, 2017), The Industrial Revolution in World History Ed.IV (Westview, 2016), Globalization in World History, Ed.II (Routledge, 2016), Childhood in World History, Ed.III (Routledge, 2016), The Industrial Turn in World History (Routledge, 2016), Gender in World History (Routledge, 2015), Debating the Industrial Revolution (Bloomsbury, 2015); and as editor, The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World: 1750 to the Present (Oxford, 2008).

Peter N. Stearns is Provost of George Mason University, and teaches courses in world history and social history. Stearns is a past vice president of the American Historical Association, in charge of the Teaching Division. He currently serves as chair of the Advanced Placement World History committee, founded and continues to serve as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Social History. Stearns is the author or editor of over 85 books.