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 44
Page 1
... contemporary common sense of sacrifice: "All reasonable efforts to reach a peaceful resolution" had been expended; acceptance of peace at this stage would be less reasonable than the pursuance of war. "While the world waited," claimed ...
... contemporary common sense of sacrifice: "All reasonable efforts to reach a peaceful resolution" had been expended; acceptance of peace at this stage would be less reasonable than the pursuance of war. "While the world waited," claimed ...
Page 6
... contemporary times. There is, however, no readily available term to describe the collection of ideological habits (including habits of practice and belief) which reproduce established nations as nations. It is as if the term ...
... contemporary times. There is, however, no readily available term to describe the collection of ideological habits (including habits of practice and belief) which reproduce established nations as nations. It is as if the term ...
Page 7
... contemporary world do not forget their nationality. When George Bush made his eve-of-battle-speech, he could assume that his audience would know whether or not they were American. He also could assume that they would recognize what ...
... contemporary world do not forget their nationality. When George Bush made his eve-of-battle-speech, he could assume that his audience would know whether or not they were American. He also could assume that they would recognize what ...
Page 9
... contemporary world makes universal claims. The talk of a new world order suggests how intertwined the national and the international are. Yet, one nation, in particular, is seeking to represent this order. At the present juncture ...
... contemporary world makes universal claims. The talk of a new world order suggests how intertwined the national and the international are. Yet, one nation, in particular, is seeking to represent this order. At the present juncture ...
Page 10
... contemporary common sense. The following chapter discusses the notions of banal nationalism and the banal flagging of nationhood. A distinction between the waved and unwaved flag is made. The reproduction of nation-states depends upon a ...
... contemporary common sense. The following chapter discusses the notions of banal nationalism and the banal flagging of nationhood. A distinction between the waved and unwaved flag is made. The reproduction of nation-states depends upon a ...
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
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