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 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 ...
... 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 ...
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 ...
... 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 ...
Page 11
... universal symbols . Banal nationalism is not to be corralled into the sports pages or the banal clichés of vote - seeking politicians . It is much more widespread . It even has its philosophical form . Chapter 7 considers in detail the ...
... universal symbols . Banal nationalism is not to be corralled into the sports pages or the banal clichés of vote - seeking politicians . It is much more widespread . It even has its philosophical form . Chapter 7 considers in detail the ...
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 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 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 ...
... 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 ...
Contents
1 | |
13 | |
37 | |
Chapter 4 National Identity in the World of Nations | 60 |
Chapter 5 Flagging the Homeland Daily | 93 |
Chapter 6 Postmodernity and Identity | 128 |
Chapter 7 Philosophy as a Flag for the Pax Americana | 154 |
Chapter 8 Concluding Remarks | 174 |
References | 178 |
Name Index | 193 |
Subject Index | 199 |
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Common terms and phrases
American Anthony Giddens appear argued assumptions audience banal nationalism become Billig Britain British Bush celebration Chapter citizens claim common sense consciousness contemporary context culture daily declared deixis democracy depicted dialect discourse emotional established nations ethnic ethnocentrism example Falklands War familiar foreign forgetting French Giddens global groups Guardian Gulf War habits headline hegemony homeland identity politics ideology imagined imagined community inhabitants John Major John Shotter language liberal linguistic loyalty mediaeval metonymic modern Montaillou nation-state national boundaries national flag national identity nationalist nationhood newspapers ourselves particular patriotic card patterns Pax Americana philosophy political politicians postmodern praise President psychological readers represent reproduced rhetoric Rorty Rorty's routine Saddam Hussein Social Identity Theory society sociology sovereignty speak speakers speech sports pages stereotypes suggested symbols talking territory themes thesis of postmodernism thinking tradition United universal waved words world of nations world order wrestling writes