Origins of Nations PDF

Origins of Nations 1. Primordialism vs Modernism 1.1 Primordialism Conceptualizes nations as perennial identities with deep historical roots. Sometimes viewed as fixed and unchanging over time. 1.2 Modernism Views nations as products of political, social, and economic transformations in the 18th and...

Origins of Nations 1. Primordialism vs Modernism 1.1 Primordialism Conceptualizes nations as perennial identities with deep historical roots. Sometimes viewed as fixed and unchanging over time. 1.2 Modernism Views nations as products of political, social, and economic transformations in the 18th and 19th centuries. Recognizes nations as evolving entities shaped by historical contingencies. 2. The Modernity of Nations: State-Formation 2.1 Multinational Dynastic Empires Gradually replaced by modern territorial states from the 16th and 17th centuries onward. Witnessed increasing state centralization, military mobilization, and taxation. 2.2 Charles Tilly and Max Weber Charles Tilly's perspective: "states make war and war makes states," highlighting the role of conflict in state-building. Max Weber defines a state as an organization with a monopoly of legitimate violence within a given territory. 2.3 Nation-State as Extended Family The idea of the nation as an extended family emerges, wherein elites and masses identify with each other, reflecting the political structure of modern territorial states. 3. The Modernity of Nations: Socioeconomic Changes 3.1 Ernest Gellner and Benedict Anderson Ernest Gellner emphasizes the role of industrial society in necessitating a homogeneous "high culture" to facilitate communication between strangers. Benedict Anderson explores the role of "print-capitalism" in creating "languages of power" and fostering imagined communities. 3.2 Eugene Weber Eugene Weber's work illustrates how popular national identities emerged in France through mass education and urbanization in the late 19th century. 4. Types of Nations 4.1 The Civic/Ethnic Dichotomy Ethnic nations: Based on shared ethnic identity, whether real or fictive, with a focus on common ancestry. Civic nations: Founded on loyalty to and identification with constitutions and political institutions. 4.2 Critiques of the Dichotomy Anthony D. Smith argues that nationalism contains both civic and ethnic elements in varying degrees. Cultural factors such as language, religion, and traditions blur the line between civic and ethnic nationalism. 5. Nationalist Imaginaries 5.1 Benedict Anderson's Concept of Imagined Communities Anderson describes the nation as an "imagined community" made possible by modernity. New technologies and cultural artifacts, like newspapers and railway timetables, contribute to the construction of national identity. 5.2 Ernest Renan and Michael Billig Renan proposes the idea of a nation as a "daily plebiscite," sustained by constant reaffirmation rather than fixed characteristics. Billig introduces the concept of "banal nationalism," referring to the everyday reproduction of the nation through mundane practices and symbols. 6. Implications 6.1 Denaturalization of Nations and Nationalism Political, social, and economic changes between the 16th and 19th centuries have transformed the nature of nations. Nations are seen as political and social constructions that require continual reaffirmation and re-enactment. National identities are open to contestation and change, challenging essentialist notions of nationalism.