The Cultural Foundations of Nations (eBook)

Anthony D. Smith is President of the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is author of numerous works on nationalism including The Ethnic Origins of Nations (Blackwell, 1986), Chosen Peoples: Sacred Sources of National Identity (2003) and The Antiquity of Nations (2004). He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Nations and Nationalism.

Preface.

Introduction: The Theoretical Debate.

1 The Concept and its Varieties.

2 Ethnic and Religious Roots.

3 Community in the Ancient World.

4 Hierarchical Nations.

5 Covenantal Nations.

6 Republican Nations.

7 Alternative Destinies.

Conclusion.

Notes.

References

"This book bears the unmistakable hallmarks of a work by Anthony D.Smith. The theme, the breadth of cases covered, generous sprinklesof insights from history of art and measured critiques of modernistpositions are all Anthony D. Smith par excellence. There are nonasty surprises and the reader can simply sit back and let his/hermind wander off to enjoy the intellectual tour under Smith's sureguidance." (European History Quarterly, 2011)

"Smith's attempt to reintegrate pre-modern historyinto the study of nations and nationalism is certainly to bewelcomed, as it highlights the degree to which even modernnationalism draws on cultural practices and ideological conceptsthat are indeed of very old origin." (Journal ofContemporary History, July 2009)

"In its organization, theory, and scholarship, the book isoutstanding." (CHOICE)"Anthony Smith remains the most original scholar working in thefield of nationalism. In this important book, he throws new lighton premodern traditions of the nation and offers a new chronologyfor the emergence of nationalism."
John Hutchinson, London School of Economics

"Once again, Smith proves himself to be the doyen of nationalismstudies. In The Cultural Foundations of Nations, written with hiscustomary erudition and clarity, he reveals the variety of formsthat nationalism has taken over the ages. This exploration of the"dating" and "shaping" of nations is apowerful demonstration of historical sociology at its verybest."
John Stone, Boston University

"An intellectual tour de force: bold, carefully argued andprovocative. Smith identifies different historical forms of nationand distinctive public cultures emerging from Antiquity up to theGlobal Age. He explores the legacy of hierarchy, covenant andrepublic upon modern nations and offers a compelling analysis ofnationalisms as forms of a secular religion of the people whichhave evolved alongside or in opposition to traditionalreligions."
Montserrat Guibernau, Queen Mary College, University ofLondon

"An important development has occurred with the publication ofThe Cultural Foundations of Nations: Smith has significantlyfurthered and deepened our understanding of nations and nationalismthrough an historical analysis of three patterns of socialrelations - hierarchy, covenant and republic - that rightlyrecognizes the relative independence of culture. His analysis iscarried out with impressively wide-ranging and historical nuance -a powerful analysis that properly not only tolerates but alsoinvites numerous ambiguities and complications as any seriousinvestigation into nations should. With the publication of thisbook, all scholars of nations and nationalism, once again but moreso as never before, owe a debt of gratitude to AnthonySmith."
Steven Grosby, Clemson University, author ofNationalism: A Very Short Introduction