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 43
Page 2
... declared, than the wishes of the few thousand inhabitants of the islands: there was the wider consideration of ensuring that "foul and brutal aggression does not succeed in the world". If it did, then "there will be 2 Banal nationalism.
... declared, than the wishes of the few thousand inhabitants of the islands: there was the wider consideration of ensuring that "foul and brutal aggression does not succeed in the world". If it did, then "there will be 2 Banal nationalism.
Page 3
... declaring themselves satisfied with the way the government was handling the issue, which was dominating the news (but see Sanders et al., 1987, for an analysis which denies that the 'Falklands factor' had a major, long-term effect on ...
... declaring themselves satisfied with the way the government was handling the issue, which was dominating the news (but see Sanders et al., 1987, for an analysis which denies that the 'Falklands factor' had a major, long-term effect on ...
Page 13
... declaration which "has stunned the French-speaking political parties". They had declared that Belgium should be split into a loose confederation of two independent states - Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. Special ...
... declaration which "has stunned the French-speaking political parties". They had declared that Belgium should be split into a loose confederation of two independent states - Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. Special ...
Page 14
... declaring that the basis of a nation, and indeed its genius, lay in its language. According to this view, a Belgium, cobbled together out of Flemish speakers and French speakers, not to mention the small community of German speakers ...
... declaring that the basis of a nation, and indeed its genius, lay in its language. According to this view, a Belgium, cobbled together out of Flemish speakers and French speakers, not to mention the small community of German speakers ...
Page 18
... declared their patriotic resolution, condemning the relevant government minister. Through words, gestures and tones, they created the mood. Similarly, the patriotic spirit, of which they were 'brimful', consisted in declarations ...
... declared their patriotic resolution, condemning the relevant government minister. Through words, gestures and tones, they created the mood. Similarly, the patriotic spirit, of which they were 'brimful', consisted in declarations ...
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