Nationalism, Ethnicity and the State
Making and Breaking Nations
- John Coakley - University College Dublin, Ireland
This exciting new textbook is the first to offer students a truly comprehensive AND engaging account of the vibrant topic of Nationalism.
Packed with a series of rich, illustrative examples, this book examines this powerful and remarkable political force by exploring:
- Definitions of Nationalism, including normative and descriptive approaches
- The manifestation of Nationalism through language
- The relationship between Religion and Nationalism
- Discussions on the political uses of History as a social construct
- The social roots of ideologies and the significance of class and gender
- Different kinds of nationalist movements, ranging from dominant majorities to peripheral minorities
- Explanations of nationalist mobilization, taking into account historical, socio-economic and sociological approaches
- State responses to Nationalism
- Territorial and non-territorial devolutions of power and the relationship between Nationalism and Federalism
Nationalism, Ethnicity and the State is an insightful read for both undergraduate and graduate students of politics and international relations.
With this volume, John Coakley truly establishes himself as a leading authority in the field of nationalism studies. The book presents one of the first comprehensive overviews of this burgeoning discipline. The text is richly embroidered with examples from all parts of the world which bring the connections between concepts to life
Eric Kauffmann
University of London
Students of Irish politics have long benefited from John Coakley's erudition. Now students of nationalism and ethnicity can avail of his meticulous scholarship. Coakley has that rare gift: the ability to relay difficult subjects clearly without sacrificing nuance. This book will undoubtedly become the standard bearer in the field
Dr Mary-Alice Connolly Clancy
University of Exeter
This is a remarkably serious and multifaceted synthesis of the literature on nationalism from a comparative historical perspective.
Michael Hechter
Arizona State University
Coakley provides a wide-ranging and knowledgeable account of the elements which go into the making of national identity. Coakley offers a penetrating analysis of what enables or prevents nationalism moving from programmes to political organisations to popular movements to state power and finally the use of that power for nationalist projects.
John Breuilly
London School of Economics
A new kind of perspective has been developed by the author while looking at nationalism in terms of haves and have-nots: politically dominant groups that control the state and counter-groups that wish to reshape the state according to their vision. This book is worth reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as researchers who are beginning the enterprise of understanding the discourse on nationalism.
Very clear, precise and up-to-point definitions that cover almost every issue related to nationalism and ethnicity. Not exactly theory-based, but a great source for practical sides of these topics.
I would recommend this book for undergraduate and postgraduate courses on nationalism. It provides an excellent synthesis of the literature including some very useful illustrations, tables and diagrams.
A great book concerning the wide field of nationalism which stands in one row with authors like Gellner and Anderson. Thanks for the great service!
This is a richly presented book for students and researchers interested in understanding the discourse of nationalism and the elements that influence it. .. Dr Sam Erevbenagie Usadolo
This book is structured nicely and goes beyond merely outlining the many 'schools' of nationalist ideology.
I found this an accessible, articulate and contemporary account of theories and instances of nationalism. An ideal introduction into this topic for undergraduate level politics students.
