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
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Page 8
... cultural products, and even for the structuring of newspapers. In so many little ways, the citizenry are daily reminded of their national place in a world of nations. However, this reminding is so familiar, so continual, that it is not ...
... cultural products, and even for the structuring of newspapers. In so many little ways, the citizenry are daily reminded of their national place in a world of nations. However, this reminding is so familiar, so continual, that it is not ...
Page 11
... culture itself has a national dimension, as the symbols of the United States appear as universal symbols. Banal nationalism is not to be corralled into the sports pages or the banal cliches of vote-seeking politicians. It is much more ...
... culture itself has a national dimension, as the symbols of the United States appear as universal symbols. Banal nationalism is not to be corralled into the sports pages or the banal cliches of vote-seeking politicians. It is much more ...
Page 19
... culture and committed to its protection, is the natural political unit" (Gellner, 1993, p. 409). Not only does Gellner's definition link nationalism to the nation-state but also, as Gellner suggests, in these circumstances the political ...
... culture and committed to its protection, is the natural political unit" (Gellner, 1993, p. 409). Not only does Gellner's definition link nationalism to the nation-state but also, as Gellner suggests, in these circumstances the political ...
Page 23
... cultural and linguistic homogeneity, and a state like India with its mass of religions and languages. Sometimes, different religious groups have nationalist struggles, such as in Northern Ireland, and sometimes the same groups do not ...
... cultural and linguistic homogeneity, and a state like India with its mass of religions and languages. Sometimes, different religious groups have nationalist struggles, such as in Northern Ireland, and sometimes the same groups do not ...
Page 27
... culture of the dominant group, the Thais and Burmese respectively (Brown, 1989). Few nations are so homogeneous that they do not contain sub-sections, which fall under Smith's definition of ethnic: namely a group which maintains a sense ...
... culture of the dominant group, the Thais and Burmese respectively (Brown, 1989). Few nations are so homogeneous that they do not contain sub-sections, which fall under Smith's definition of ethnic: namely a group which maintains a sense ...
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