Massive changes have taken place in the way nations and nationalism are thought about. From being viewed enthusiastically by historians as a force for beneficial change before the First World War, today appeals to 'national' sentiment are viewed as far more complex and problematic.
This book looks at how historians (and others, such as sociologists and political theorists) have explained the development, and enduring importance, of national identities from c.1850 to the present day. It compares and contrasts a wide range of different theories, and will be useful for anyone wanting to equip themselves with a theoretical understanding of why we live in nations, and why we invest them with such significance.
1. Introduction: definitions and debates. 2. Early theoretical debates, 1848-1914. 3. Interwar debates, 1918-39. 4. The origins of ‘classical modernism’, 1945-69. 5. The rise and fall of 'Classical Modernism', 1970-2003. 6. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.
Biography
Paul Lawrence is Lecturer in History with the Open University. He has taught a range of courses and has published on inter-war France, nationalism and issues of crime and policing.
'This book will be of interest to those looking for an introduction to the field, and should enjoy a wide readership as an intellectual history.'
'...an engaging study.'
Andrew Thompson, University of Glamorgan, Nations and Nationalism 11 (4), 2005
