| The Nation in History: Historiographical Debates about Ethnicity and Nationalism Contributor(s): Smith, Anthony D. (Author) |
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ISBN: 1584650400 ISBN-13: 9781584650409 Publisher: Historical Society of Israel OUR PRICE: $17.77 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: July 2000 Annotation: An expert in the field analyzes the major debates between historians and social scientists on the nature and development of ethnic communities, nations, and nationalism. In concise, accessible prose, Anthony D. Smith provides a probing account of the leading assumptions and explanations of nationalism in different historical epochs. Ranging broadly over the contributions and divergent perspectives of historians, political scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, and others who have contributed to these fundamental debates, Smith codifies the most cogent responses that have been offered to three defining issues in this area: the nature and origin of the nation and nationalism; and the role of nations and nationalism in historical, and especially recent, social change. Using the examples of Persia, Israel, and Greece for long-term illustrations, Smith also discusses ethnic and national identities in France, Germany, England, Yugoslavia, and elsewhere to illuminate the uses and the meaning of alternative theories, and ends with a convincing case for the value of his own ethno-symbolist approach. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science - History | Historiography - Social Science | Ethnic Studies - General |
| Dewey: 320.54 |
| LCCN: 00021080 |
| Series: Menahem Stern Jerusalem Lectures |
| Physical Information: 0.41" H x 5.52" W x 8.46" (0.39 lbs) 122 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In the first theoretical analysis of historiographical debates about ethnicity and nationalism, Anthony Smith provides a probing account of historians' assumptions and explanations of nationalism in different historical epochs. Ranging broadly over the contributions and divergent perspectives of historians, political scientists, sociologists, anthropologists and others who have contributed to these fundamental debates, Smith codifies the most cogent responses that have been offered to three defining issues in this area: the nature and origin of the nation and nationalism; the antiquity or modernity of nations and nationalism; and the role of nations and nationalism in historical, and especially recent, social change. Using the examples of Persia, Israel, and Greece for long-term illustrations, Smith also discusses ethnic and national identities in France, Germany, England, Yugoslavia, and elsewhere to illuminate the uses and the meaning of alternative theories, and ends with a convincing case for the value of his own ethno-symbolist approach. |