The Necessary Nation
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: March 1, 2001
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780691070292
Subjects: Cultural studies; Nationalism; Politics / Current Events; History & Theory - General; Literary Criticism; Anthropology - Cultural; General; Anthropology; European History; History / Europe / General; Political Philosophy; World History/Comparative History; Culture
First sentence: THE RETURN of nationalism surely counts as one of the most stunning occurrences of the past quarter century, having baffled politicians, journalists, diplomats, and academics alike.
Description: "In this controversial look at nationalism, Gregory Jusdanis offers a sweeping defense of the nation as a protector of cultural difference and a catalyst for modernization. Since the end of the Cold War, the nation-state has undergone intense scrutiny among critics in the media and the academy. Many believe that civic nationalism may be fruitful but that cultural nationalism fosters xenophobia and backward thinking.

Jusdanis, however, emphasizes the positive collaboration between nation-building and culture.".

"Through a series of critical readings of multicultural, postcolonial, and globalization theories, the author reveals how nationalism enables people to defend their distinctive ways of life, to fight colonial oppression, and to build an independent society of citizens. He explains why people over the last two hundred years have politicized their ethnic identities and have sought a union of culture and power within an autonomous nation-state.

While seeking to defend nationalism, Jusdanis also examines its potential to unleash extraordinary violence into the world. He thus proposes federalism as a political solution to the challenges posed by nationalism and globalization.".

"Jusdanis applies the tools of disciplines ranging from anthropology to philosophy, as he explores the nation-building projects of numerous and diverse countries around the world. What emerges is a fresh perspective on the subjects of national culture, identity, political nations, globalization, postcolonialism, and diaspora."--BOOK JACKET.