Nation and Identity in Contemporary Europe

by Jenkins, Brian; Sofos, Spyros A.

• ISBN13: 9780415123136
• ISBN10: 0415123135
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-06-01
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

A rich analysis of the 'national question' in nine major European countries. It reaffirms that 'nation' is an ideological construct and that 'nationalism' is a distinctly political programme. The resilience of nationalism in contemporary Europe may seem paradoxical at a time when the nation state is widely seen as being "in decline." Why should so many movements across the continent be seeking to preserve or replicate a mode of political organization whose efficacy and legitimacy is increasingly open to doubt? Challenged from above by the supranational imperatives of globalism and from below by the complex pluralism of modern societies, less and less are able to "deliver the goods" in terms of policy or to provide the primary focus for social identity, the nation state faces an uncertain future.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Nation and Nationalism in Europe: A Theoretical Perspective

The Language of Racism in Contemporary Europe

Race, Nation and Identity in Fortress Europe

Reconsidering 'Britishness': The Construction and Significance of National Identity in Twentieth Century Britain

Nation, Nationalism and National Identity in France

Post-War National Identity in Germany

Italian National Identity and the Failure of Regionalism

Multiple National Identities, Immigration and Racism in Spain and Portugal

The Failure of Nationalism in Post-Communist Poland 1989-95: An Historical Perspective

Nationalism and National Identity in Russia

Politics, Culture and National Identity in former Yugoslavia

Conclusion

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