Banal NationalismSAGE, 1995 M08 15 - 208 pages Michael Billig presents a major challenge to orthodox conceptions of nationalism in this elegantly written book. While traditional theorizing has tended to the focus on extreme expressions of nationalism, the author turns his attention to the everyday, less visible forms which are neither exotic or remote, he describes as `banal nationalism′. The author asks why people do not forget their national identity. He suggests that in daily life nationalism is constantly flagged in the media through routine symbols and habits of language. Banal Nationalism is critical of orthodox theories in sociology, politics and social psychology for ignoring this core feature of national identity. Michael Billig argues forcefully that with nationalism continuing to be a major ideological force in the contemporary world, it is all the more important to recognize those signs of nationalism which are so familiar that they are easily overlooked. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 76
Page 2
... American flag flies above our embassy." Perhaps a quarter of a million Iraqis - civilian and military - lay dead. The exact figure will not be known. The West was not counting its victims; it was enjoying its victory. The American flag ...
... American flag flies above our embassy." Perhaps a quarter of a million Iraqis - civilian and military - lay dead. The exact figure will not be known. The West was not counting its victims; it was enjoying its victory. The American flag ...
Page 3
... American-led coalition in the Gulf, as did the British in the Falklands campaign, spoke of the crime of national invasion. The new world order would, according to Bush, protect nations from aggressive neighbours. He had nothing to say ...
... American-led coalition in the Gulf, as did the British in the Falklands campaign, spoke of the crime of national invasion. The new world order would, according to Bush, protect nations from aggressive neighbours. He had nothing to say ...
Page 4
... America" (1991, p. 314). In this way, God was asked to continue serving the national order. In all this, an ideological consciousness of nationhood can be seen to be at work. It embraces a complex set of themes about 'us', 'our homeland ...
... America" (1991, p. 314). In this way, God was asked to continue serving the national order. In all this, an ideological consciousness of nationhood can be seen to be at work. It embraces a complex set of themes about 'us', 'our homeland ...
Page 5
... Americans did not have to remind themselves what this arrangement of stars and stripes was. The national anthem, which topped the us music chart, was recorded at a football final. Each year, whether in peace or war, it is sung before ...
... Americans did not have to remind themselves what this arrangement of stars and stripes was. The national anthem, which topped the us music chart, was recorded at a football final. Each year, whether in peace or war, it is sung before ...
Page 6
... America, France, the United Kingdom and so on continue to exist. Daily, they are reproduced as nations and their citizenry as nationals. And these nations are reproduced within a wider world of nations. For such daily reproduction to ...
... America, France, the United Kingdom and so on continue to exist. Daily, they are reproduced as nations and their citizenry as nationals. And these nations are reproduced within a wider world of nations. For such daily reproduction to ...
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
37 | |
National Identity in the World of Nations | 60 |
Flagging the Homeland Daily | 93 |
Postmodernity and Identity | 128 |
Philosophy as a Flag for the Pax Americana | 154 |
Concluding Remarks | 174 |
References | 178 |
Name Index | 193 |
Subject Index | 199 |
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Common terms and phrases
according American appear argued assumed audience banal banal nationalism become boundaries Britain British called Cambridge century Chapter citizens claim consciousness contemporary context continue created critics culture daily deixis described discourse distinction established ethnic Europe example exist familiar flag force foreign forgetting French global Guardian habits hegemony homeland hopes idea ideology imagined important independence individual interests language liberal linguistic live London major means merely movements nation-state national identity nationalist nationhood natural newspapers ourselves particular party patriotic patterns person philosophy political politicians postmodern present President Press psychological readers represent rhetoric Rorty Rorty's routine seek seems seen sense social society sort speak speakers speech sporting stereotypes story suggested symbols talking tend term territory themes theory thinking tradition United universal waved whole world of nations writes