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 37
Page 3
... citizens from the crimes of their own governments. No one had suggested that the British should intervene to stop ... citizens: no foreign government had committed its soldiery to rescue German Jewry. But once the German government ...
... citizens from the crimes of their own governments. No one had suggested that the British should intervene to stop ... citizens: no foreign government had committed its soldiery to rescue German Jewry. But once the German government ...
Page 7
... citizens answer; and the patriotic identity is connected. Actually, the notion of an 'identity' does not take the argument very far. It is seldom clear what an identity is. What is this thing - this identity - which people are supposed ...
... citizens answer; and the patriotic identity is connected. Actually, the notion of an 'identity' does not take the argument very far. It is seldom clear what an identity is. What is this thing - this identity - which people are supposed ...
Page 14
... citizens speak the same language. John Edwards has observed that "language is still commonly taken to be the central pillar of ethnic identity" (1991, p. 269, emphasis in original; see also, Edwards, 1985; Fishman, 1972; Gudykunst and ...
... citizens speak the same language. John Edwards has observed that "language is still commonly taken to be the central pillar of ethnic identity" (1991, p. 269, emphasis in original; see also, Edwards, 1985; Fishman, 1972; Gudykunst and ...
Page 15
... citizens of nation-states. In consequence, nationalism is not merely the ideology which is impelling Flemish speakers to resist the Belgian state. It is also the ideology which permits the states, including the Belgian state, to exist ...
... citizens of nation-states. In consequence, nationalism is not merely the ideology which is impelling Flemish speakers to resist the Belgian state. It is also the ideology which permits the states, including the Belgian state, to exist ...
Page 20
... citizens, and male citizens in particular, might expect to be called upon to kill and die in defence of the national border- post. A glance at mediaeval and modern maps shows the novelty of the bounded state. Not only are European ...
... citizens, and male citizens in particular, might expect to be called upon to kill and die in defence of the national border- post. A glance at mediaeval and modern maps shows the novelty of the bounded state. Not only are European ...
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