When is the Nation?

This new collection of key authors on nationalism presents the latest thinking on this fundamental aspect of Politics, International Relations and Sociology. John Breuilly, Walker Connor, Steven Grosby, Eric Hobsbawm, Anthony D Smith and Pierre van den Berghe comprehensively explain and address the key contemporary question in nationalism studies of 'when is the nation?' , or what point in a nation's history is it born, with authority and freshness. Our world is still deeply imbedded in the language and practice of nations and nationalism and they remain central parts in understanding human society. This comparison and contrast of the main approaches reveals their strengths and weaknesses. This new text: * introduces the main schools of thought with clarity and concision * tackles the most pertinent questions in nationalism * delivers both theoretical and empirical perspectives * uses an innovative new interactive debate format with questions and answers * presents key case studies bringing theory to life The inclusion of case studies gives the reader fresh insight into specific nations and national groups, including The United States, Greece, England and Fiji. The accessible debate format puts main theories and thinkers to the test, enabling the reader to interact with the issues directly. This unique volume is an invaluable resource for students and scholars of nationalism, ethnicity and global conflict.

Atsuko Ichijo is Research Fellow in European Studies at Kingston University, London, UK. She has recently published Scottish Nationalism and the Idea of Europe (Routledge, 2004). Gordana Uzelac is Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Sociology, London Metropolitan University. Her main research areas include the formation of ethnic and national identities and the process of nation-formation in Eastern Europe (especially former Yugoslavia) and western societies.

Introduction Part I: Theoretical issues 1. 'Modernism' 2. 'Primordialism' 3. 'Ethno-symbolism' 4 'General discussion' 5. 'When was the English nation?' 6. 'When was the first new nation?: Locating America in a national context' 7. 'When, What and How is the Nation: Lessons from Greece' 8. 'Nationalism and the politics of ethnicity in Fiji: Critical perspectives on primordialism, modernism and ethno-symbolism' Conclusion