The State of the Nation: Ernest Gellner and the Theory of Nationalism

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511897559

Nationalism is one of the major social and political issues of modern times, and a subject of intense intellectual debate. The most important and influential theory of nationalism is that of Ernest Gellner (1925–1995). This volume assesses every aspect of that theory, bringing together an exceptional set of scholars to explain, criticise and move beyond Gellner's work. In doing so the book establishes the state-of-play within the theory of nationalism, and complements Gellner's account by bringing political variables back into play. The book is unique in offering sustained attention to a single powerful theory, and will be of wide interest to students and scholars of political and social theory, history, sociology and anthropology.

"...this is a necessary addition to the libraries of students and scholars of nationalism." Choice

"...Hall has done an excellent job in introducing the volume and dividing the articles into four sections that hold together rather well. John A. Hall has produced a book that contains much material that will be useful to economic historians both in terms of content, and more importantly, in methodology." Journal of Economic History

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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List of contributors
pp vii-viii
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Introduction
pp 1-20
- By John A. Hall, McGill University
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Part I - The making of the theory
pp 21-22
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1 - Thoughts about change: Ernest Gellner and the history of nationalism
pp 23-39
- By Roman Szporluk, Harvard University
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2 - Ernest Gellner's diagnoses of nationalism: a critical overview, or, what is living and what is dead in Ernest Gellner's philosophy of nationalism?
pp 40-88
- By Brendan O'Leary, Government at the LSE
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Part II - The classical criticisms
pp 89-90
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3 - Real and constructed: the nature of the nation
pp 91-106
- By Miroslav Hroch, Charles University
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4 - The curse of rurality: limits of modernisation theory
pp 107-134
- By Tom Nairn, University of Edinburgh
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5 - Nationalism and language: a post-Soviet perspective
pp 135-157
- By David Laitin, University of Chicago
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6 - Ernest Gellner's theory of nationalism: some definitional and methodological issues
pp 158-166
- By Nicos Mouzelis, Sociology at the LSE
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Part III - Bringing politics back in
pp 167-168
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7 - Nationalisms that bark and nationalisms that bite: Ernest Gellner and the substantiation of nations
pp 169-190
- By Mark Beissinger, University of Wisconsin at Madison
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8 - Nationalism and modernity
pp 191-218
- By Charles Taylor, McGill University
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9 - Modern multinational democracies: transcending a Gellnerian oxymoron
pp 219-240
- By Alfred Stepan, Oxford University
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Part IV - Wider implications
pp 241-242
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10 - Nationalism and civil society in central Europe: from Ruritania to the Carpathian Euroregion
pp 243-257
- By Chris Hann, University of Kent
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11 - From here to modernity: Ernest Gellner on nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism
pp 258-271
- By Dale F. Eickelman, Dartmouth College
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12 - Myths and misconceptions in the study of nationalism
pp 272-306
- By Rogers Brubaker, Sociology at UCLA
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Bibliography of Ernest Gellner's writings on nationalism
pp 307-310
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Index
pp 311-317
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The State of the Nation

Ernest Gellner and the Theory of Nationalism

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

List of contributors
pp vii-viii

Introduction
pp 1-20

Part I - The making of the theory
pp 21-22

1 - Thoughts about change: Ernest Gellner and the history of nationalism
pp 23-39

2 - Ernest Gellner's diagnoses of nationalism: a critical overview, or, what is living and what is dead in Ernest Gellner's philosophy of nationalism?
pp 40-88

Part II - The classical criticisms
pp 89-90

3 - Real and constructed: the nature of the nation
pp 91-106

4 - The curse of rurality: limits of modernisation theory
pp 107-134

5 - Nationalism and language: a post-Soviet perspective
pp 135-157

6 - Ernest Gellner's theory of nationalism: some definitional and methodological issues
pp 158-166

Part III - Bringing politics back in
pp 167-168

7 - Nationalisms that bark and nationalisms that bite: Ernest Gellner and the substantiation of nations
pp 169-190

8 - Nationalism and modernity
pp 191-218

9 - Modern multinational democracies: transcending a Gellnerian oxymoron
pp 219-240

Part IV - Wider implications
pp 241-242

10 - Nationalism and civil society in central Europe: from Ruritania to the Carpathian Euroregion
pp 243-257

11 - From here to modernity: Ernest Gellner on nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism
pp 258-271

12 - Myths and misconceptions in the study of nationalism
pp 272-306

Bibliography of Ernest Gellner's writings on nationalism
pp 307-310

Index
pp 311-317

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The State of the Nation

Ernest Gellner and the Theory of Nationalism

Book description

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