1. The Nation

2. Reading Valentine Ch 9 esp. pp. 295-306 Nations National Identity Nationalism

3. The Nation Nation-states a product of a specific historical epoch –Industrial Capitalism Nation-States under threat –From Globalization –From internal division

4. Nations A collective form of identity Socially constructed A legacy of the modern period Nation-States under threat: –Identity being re-constructed

5. Nationalism: Michael Ignatieff Ethnic nationalism Civic nationalism

6. Civic Nationalism Nation is composed of all who subscribe to its political creed –a nation based on citizenship –regardless of birth, ethnic origin, language etc., –Socially realistic –Example: Canada outside of Quebec

7. Ethnic Nationalism Nation composed of those of a common ethnic heritage –a nation based on blood, language –rule by the ethnic majority –Socially unrealistic

8. Ethnic Nationalism Nations are idealised as “pure” cultures –motherland; fatherland; homeland; cradle/berceau –idealised landscapes –association of space & people, blood & soil

9. Ethnic Nationalism Constructs a Gaze –Ethnocentric self vs Others –Can be hostile toward Others

10. State Capitol, Austin TX

15. Civic Nationalism In debunking the mythologies of ethnic nationalism (blood & soil etc.,) Ignatieff creates other mythologies: –culture, history, tradition still matter in a “civic nation” –“Civic nations” have their own traditions, mythologies, tribal myths etc., –Civic Nationalism as politically-correct wishful thinking linklink

16. Imagined communities Benedict Anderson (1983) Nations are imagined communities But they are not purely imaginary –Created out of pre- existing identities

17. Nation State Historically specific Invented in C16th Europe

18. Nation State Importance of media, schools –Disseminates idea of community –Co-ordinates common experience

19. Benedict Anderson: Print capitalism and Ethnic diversity –Promote imagined communities

20. Gerrard St East Video capitalism and Thriving Indian expatriate community –Promotes the imagination of an India by the expatriate community

22. Invented traditions Creating or falsifying the past –for promoting an invented community

23. Nationalism “...what nationalism really is: the dream that a whole nation could be like a congregation; singing the same hymns, listening to the same gospel, sharing the same emotions, linked not only to each other, but to the dead buried beneath their feet.” -- Michael Ignatieff Blood & Belonging

24. Assad’s Funeral, Syria

25. National Identity

26. French Nationalism

28. US Nationalism

30. the beaver is a proud and truly noble animal….

31. Nationalist Kitsch “There is no nationalist art that is not kitsch, no patriotic creation that does not pantomime sincerity. Why? Perhaps no art that is not personal can ever be genuinely sincere, and nationalist art, by definition, cannot be personal.” -- Michael Ignatieff Blood & Belonging

32. Banal Nationalism Where nationalist symbolism becomes more important than any deeper social reality

39. Conclusion: Nations, Nationalism are social phenomena –socially constructed –socially meaningful to some extent –importance of mythology and symbolism in creating national identity