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 4
... themes about 'us', 'our homeland', 'nations' ('ours' and 'theirs'), the 'world', as well as the morality of national duty and honour. Moreover, these themes are widely diffused as common sense. It is not the common sense of a particular ...
... themes about 'us', 'our homeland', 'nations' ('ours' and 'theirs'), the 'world', as well as the morality of national duty and honour. Moreover, these themes are widely diffused as common sense. It is not the common sense of a particular ...
Page 9
... themes, outlined above, are explored, so inevitably the exemplars of banal nationalism have to be accompanied by theoretical and critical analyses. In many respects, this must be a preliminary study, which feels its way around the topic ...
... themes, outlined above, are explored, so inevitably the exemplars of banal nationalism have to be accompanied by theoretical and critical analyses. In many respects, this must be a preliminary study, which feels its way around the topic ...
Page 10
... themes in nationalist consciousness. In doing this, it criticizes social psychological theories that see nationalism as merely one form of identity amongst countless others. Nationalism is more than this: it is a way of thinking or ...
... themes in nationalist consciousness. In doing this, it criticizes social psychological theories that see nationalism as merely one form of identity amongst countless others. Nationalism is more than this: it is a way of thinking or ...
Page 11
... theme in the present work is that notions of nationhood are deeply embedded in contemporary ways of thinking. Some analysts are currently arguing that the nation-state belongs to the modern age and is being superseded in the postmodern ...
... theme in the present work is that notions of nationhood are deeply embedded in contemporary ways of thinking. Some analysts are currently arguing that the nation-state belongs to the modern age and is being superseded in the postmodern ...
Page 18
... was doing more than that: he was repeating commonplace themes of his times: the virtues of loving all mankind and being brimful with patriotism; and the naughtiness of enjoying an explosive hatred of Americans. 18 Banal nationalism.
... was doing more than that: he was repeating commonplace themes of his times: the virtues of loving all mankind and being brimful with patriotism; and the naughtiness of enjoying an explosive hatred of Americans. 18 Banal nationalism.
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