11/5: Soci 420 - Nations and Nationalism
Overview of Nations and Nationalism
Transitioning from revolutions and social movements to nations and nationalism.
Discussion structured as:
Introduction to Eric Hobsbawm's reading.
Overview of Ernest Gellner's reading.
Group discussions planned.
Eric Hobsbawm
Eminent British historian known for work on capitalism, nationalism, socialism, and general history.
Notorious for writing about the long nineteenth century (1789-1914).
Academic positions include the University of London and the Mutual of New York.
Known for his humor in writing.
Key Work: Nationalism since 1780
Published in 1990, titled "Nationalism since 1780: Program, Myth, Reality."
Makes the argument that the concept of the nation is a recent invention (eighteenth century).
Notes that nationalism fully emerged in the nineteenth century.
Became a significant motivator for various movements, including geopolitics, wars, genocides, and liberation efforts.
Definition of a Nation
Hobsbawm acknowledges the difficulty in defining a nation.
Groups definitions into two categories:
Objective definitions: Criteria-based.
Common criteria include language, territory, culture, history, and ethnicity.
Example from Stalin (1912): "A nation is a historically evolved stable community of language, territory, economic life, and psychological makeup, manifested in a community of culture."
Example: The Italian nation recognized by common language and territory.
Subjective definitions: Based on self-identification.
If people believe they constitute a nation, they are treated as such regardless of objective measures.
Advantages: More adaptable and fluid definition but criticized for being tautological (a circular definition).
Challenge: It explains nations only after they are formed, lacks predictive power.
Critique of Definitions
Hobsbawm argues both definitions (objective and subjective) fail to adequately capture the essence of nations.
Claims the fluidity and historical context of nations cannot fit into rigid criteria.
Concludes that he will adopt an agnostic approach, indicating that neither definition is wholly satisfactory.
Adopts a more subjective treatment for analytical purposes:
Notes, "Any sufficiently large body of people whose members regard themselves as members of a nation will be treated as such."
Gellner's Definition of Nationalism
Gellner's definition summarizes nationalism as:
"Primarily a principle that holds that the political and national unit should be congruent."
Emphasizes a political duty to one's nation that supersedes other obligations.
Primary Principles of Nationalism (Hobsbawm)
Political & national congruence: The political body must align with the nation.
Nationalism before nations: Concept of nations is secondary to nationalism; nationalism actively creates nations.
Quote by Gellner: "Nationalism creates nations."
Dependence on technology: Formation of nations is contingent on technological and economic conditions (e.g., mass literacy requires mass education).
Dual analysis of national identity: Consider both state leaders’ perspectives and ordinary people's perspectives.
Recognizes that national identification can evolve rapidly over time.
Development of national consciousness: Uneven among different social groups and regions.
Historians' neutrality: Historians cannot adopt nationalistic views as it requires uncritical acceptance of historical narratives that may not be accurate.
Nationalist Movements and Sentiment (Gellner)
National sentiment: The feeling of dissatisfaction due to a failure to achieve national congruence or satisfaction when it is fulfilled.
Nationalist movement: Activism driven by the sentiment regarding national congruence.
Violations of the nationalist principle include:
Political boundaries excluding a nation.
Non-nationals present within a state unaligned with the nation's identity.
Nations historically divided across multiple states (e.g., Kurds).
Nationalism and the State
States are essential for nationalism; nationalism presupposes the existence of states.
Quote: "Nationalism emerges only in the milieu in which the existence of the state is already very much taken for granted."
Highlights the need for conclusions that align the definitions of nationalism and nation with historical and social contexts.
Conclusion and Discussion Points
Engages students to reflect on the definitions discussed and how different formulations might resonate with their perspectives on nations.
Prompts for future discussions to explore further readings, including Gellner's perspectives.
Set to examine whether nationalism is fundamentally good, bad, or neutral, with a growing recognition of the complexity surrounding modern national identities.