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 45
Page 9
... universal morality. Nationalism in the 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 ...
... universal morality. Nationalism in the 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 ...
Page 10
... universal interests, or for the whole world order. The voice of nationalism can employ 'the syntax of hegemony', which claims an 'identity of identities'. If nationalism has become banal in established democracies of the 10 Banal ...
... universal interests, or for the whole world order. The voice of nationalism can employ 'the syntax of hegemony', which claims an 'identity of identities'. If nationalism has become banal in established democracies of the 10 Banal ...
Page 11
... 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 widespread. It even has its philosophical form. Chapter 7 considers in detail the work ...
... 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 widespread. It even has its philosophical form. Chapter 7 considers in detail the work ...
Page 14
... 'them', the Flemings or Walloons and their particular conflict. Something more universal has to be placed in metaphorical brackets. To achieve this bracketing, we must distance ourselves from ourselves 14 Banal nationalism.
... 'them', the Flemings or Walloons and their particular conflict. Something more universal has to be placed in metaphorical brackets. To achieve this bracketing, we must distance ourselves from ourselves 14 Banal nationalism.
Page 17
... universal psychological states, and not peculiar to the age of nation-states. As such, 'banal nationalism' not only ceases to be nationalism, but it ceases to be a problem for investigation. Indeed, the lack of such identities (the lack ...
... universal psychological states, and not peculiar to the age of nation-states. As such, 'banal nationalism' not only ceases to be nationalism, but it ceases to be a problem for investigation. Indeed, the lack of such identities (the lack ...
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 |
Other editions - View all
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