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 82
Page
... National Identity in the World of Nations 60 5 Flagging the Homeland Daily 93 6 Postmodernity and Identity 128 7 Philosophy as a Flag for the Pax Americana 154 8 Concluding Remarks 174 References 178 Name Index 193 Subject Index 198.
... National Identity in the World of Nations 60 5 Flagging the Homeland Daily 93 6 Postmodernity and Identity 128 7 Philosophy as a Flag for the Pax Americana 154 8 Concluding Remarks 174 References 178 Name Index 193 Subject Index 198.
Page 7
... national populations appear also to be primed, ready to support the use of those armaments. Identity and Ideology The popular reaction of support for the Gulf War in the United States cannot be understood by what happened during the ...
... national populations appear also to be primed, ready to support the use of those armaments. Identity and Ideology The popular reaction of support for the Gulf War in the United States cannot be understood by what happened during the ...
Page 8
... National identity embraces all these forgotten reminders. Consequently, an identity is to be found in the embodied habits of social life. Such habits include those of thinking and using language. To have a national identity is to ...
... National identity embraces all these forgotten reminders. Consequently, an identity is to be found in the embodied habits of social life. Such habits include those of thinking and using language. To have a national identity is to ...
Page 9
... identity define 'our' nationalism away, or if they consider it 'natural' to have national identities, then they are not suitable for analysing how banal nationalism is so forgettable. Such theories will not so much provide tools for ...
... identity define 'our' nationalism away, or if they consider it 'natural' to have national identities, then they are not suitable for analysing how banal nationalism is so forgettable. Such theories will not so much provide tools for ...
Page 10
... national languages also have to be imagined, and this lies at the root of today's common-sense belief that discrete ... identity amongst countless others. Nationalism is more than this: it is a way of thinking or ideological consciousness. In ...
... national languages also have to be imagined, and this lies at the root of today's common-sense belief that discrete ... identity amongst countless others. Nationalism is more than this: it is a way of thinking or ideological consciousness. In ...
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