Nations without nationalism
By: Julia Kristeva ; translated by Leon S. Roudiez.
Series: European perspectives
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 1993
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 108
Subjects: Désir, Harlem, 1959-  -- Philosophy; Gaulle, Charles de, 1890-1970 -- Philosophy; National characteristics, French; Racism -- France; Nationalism -- France
Description: "Underlying Julia Kristeva's latest work is the idea that otherness - whether it be ethnic, religious, social, or political - needs to be understood and accepted in order to guarantee social harmony. Nations Without Nationalism is an impassioned plea for tolerance and for commonality, aimed at a world brimming over with racism and xenophobia." "Responding to the rise of neo-Nazi groups in Germany and Eastern Europe and the continued popularity of the National Front in France, Kristeva turns to the origins of the nation-state to illustrate the problematic nature of nationalism and its complex configurations in subsequent centuries." "For Kristeva, the key to commonality can be found in Montesquieu's esprit general - his notion of the social body as a guaranteed hierarchy of private rights." "Nations Without Nationalism also contains Kristeva's thoughts on Harlem Desir, the founder of the antiracist organization SOS Racisme; the links between psychoanalysis and nationalism; the historical nature of French national identity; the relationship between esprit general and Volksgeist; Charles de Gaulle's complex ideas involving the "nation" and his dream of a unified Europe." "In the tradition of Strangers to Ourselves, her most recent nonfiction work, Nations Without Nationalism reflects a passionate commitment to enlightenment and social justice. As ethnic strife persists in Europe and the United States, Kristeva's humanistic message carries with it a special resonance and urgency."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-102) and index.