What makes people love and die for nations, as well as hate and kill in their name? While many studies have been written on nationalist political movements, the sense of nationality - the personal and cultural feeling of belonging to a nation - has not received proportionate attention. In this widely acclaimed work, Benedict Anderson examines the creation and function of the "imagined communities" of nationality and the way these communities were in part created by the growth of the nation-state, the interaction between capitalism and printing and the birth of vernacular languages in early modern Europe.
Imagined Communities
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What makes people love and die for nations, as well as hate and kill in their name? In this important work, Benedict Anderson focuses a much-needed clear eye on nationalism as cultural artefact, created and transformed through historical processes--a fated and thus pure attachment experienced every day through the connections language forges with a living and dead community.
In selecting the genealogy of "thinking" the nation, Anderson chooses his trajectory well--thankfully reading not only from the social history of Europe, but also from the experiences of its colonies and other states across the globe (the armed conflicts of 1978--79 Indochina provided the immediate impetus for the original 1983 text). It is especially these states which Anderson's later revisions address, with his wise realisation that so-called "official nationalism" in colonised Asia and Africa was not transplanted without intervention from that of the dynastic states of 19th-century Europe. When dealing with such an emotive subject, Anderson thankfully avoids favouring rhetoric over grounded analysis. He thoroughly explains the role of print language in imagining community, particularly with the development of the novel set in a society to which the reader may or may not belong, but can recognise, and the newspaper, which, perhaps replacing morning prayers, is read every day by people who have a sense of their fellow readers' existence.
The power of Imagined Communities ultimately lies in its applied resonances. The force of the argument of an "imagined community" is not only invaluable to sociologists or political economists, but it implicates each of us in compelling notions of identity and belonging whether our imagined community is with a nation or with others who buy, listen to and watch the same cultural products as ourselves. Essential reading for anyone interested in a history of the present. --Fiona Buckland --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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"Anderson's knowlege of a vast range of relevant historical literature is most impressive; his presentation of the gist of it is both masterly and lucid." - New Statesman "Sparkling, readable, densely packed..." - Guardian "A brilliant little book." - Neal Ascherson, The Observer
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37 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By Germinal
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was looking forward to reading 'Imagined Communities' as it is often seen as something of a standard text on nationalism. I ended up disappointed. The key lies with the subtitle of the book - 'Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism'. I'll try to pinpoint why but first I'll deal with what I think is valuable about the work.
It's beautifully written with witty asides and is easily read. There are plenty of insights into the way that nationalism works and how nations are imagined - that concept is a great one - how history, maps, museums, censuses, literature all contribute to the collective imagining of something called a nation and how this imagining is relatively modern. This is illustrated with some fascinating examples. Anderson is also fairly good at explaining how nationalism spread and how it has now become universal.
So, 'Imagined Communities' strength is explaining how nationalism works and, to a lesser extent, how it spreads. The weakness is in explaining the origins of nationalism. Anderson locates this in the coincidence of the rise of capitalism, the technology of print and language. Anderson also locates the first nationalisms as being creole nationalisms in the Americas thereby ignoring the rise of the nation states in the Netherlands and England prior to this. One is left with a nagging feeling that the explanation being offered here is inadequate.
Anderson is right to point out the rise of state bureaucracy in the relation to the rise of nationalism but neglects the idea that the needs of business and the protection of markets could play a similar function. In short, Anderson fails to account for the fact that the rise of nationalism mirrors the rise and spread of capitalism per se and not just print capitalism.... Read more ›
It's beautifully written with witty asides and is easily read. There are plenty of insights into the way that nationalism works and how nations are imagined - that concept is a great one - how history, maps, museums, censuses, literature all contribute to the collective imagining of something called a nation and how this imagining is relatively modern. This is illustrated with some fascinating examples. Anderson is also fairly good at explaining how nationalism spread and how it has now become universal.
So, 'Imagined Communities' strength is explaining how nationalism works and, to a lesser extent, how it spreads. The weakness is in explaining the origins of nationalism. Anderson locates this in the coincidence of the rise of capitalism, the technology of print and language. Anderson also locates the first nationalisms as being creole nationalisms in the Americas thereby ignoring the rise of the nation states in the Netherlands and England prior to this. One is left with a nagging feeling that the explanation being offered here is inadequate.
Anderson is right to point out the rise of state bureaucracy in the relation to the rise of nationalism but neglects the idea that the needs of business and the protection of markets could play a similar function. In short, Anderson fails to account for the fact that the rise of nationalism mirrors the rise and spread of capitalism per se and not just print capitalism.... Read more ›
63 of 74 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Without doubt the finest reflection on the origin and spread of nationalism ever written, not only in terms of its informed, imaginative perspective but also in the erudite quality of Anderson's narrative. As an expert on the history of South-East Asia, Anderson brings a valuable perspective to the all too Euro-centric debate on the rise of the nation state and the emotional attachment to it. A must for all who seek to discover the elusive and thusfar ill-defined origins of nationalism.
By ivita07
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent introduction to social studies, the concepts of identity, nation and state,the formation of the national identity in the context of policies dictates for groups in power are describe with clarity.
Anderson is a permanent referent in social studies.
Great book and the language is completely accessible
Anderson is a permanent referent in social studies.
Great book and the language is completely accessible
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of those books that you kinda have to have on your shelf if you consider yourself any kind of social scientist. I managed to escape my entire undergrad by just referring to it, and not actually reading it. Now that I'm doing my masters, its not really an option. However, imagine my surprise, when on reading, I realise that its a wonderfully interesting and accessible book, AND it truly is seminal and applicable for most disciplines, psychology, anthropology, politics, international relations, linguistics etc. The concepts are explained clearly, and it looks more like a fun book than an academic text (which kinda makes all the difference for me)! Would definitely recommend, and for those people that don't feel the need for an extra piece of paper to validate their lives, its actually just a good book, full of insight, and (hopefully) will make you see the world a bit differently. :D
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read it as part of my self-education about nationalism since it was a topic that I've always wondered about on the personal level. This book proved what I believed about nationalism but never strongly enough. I was a bit disappointed right after finishing reading it although the last chapter was very interesting and as a matter of fact, a creative way to finish a book about nationalism.
The book is something between a serious history reference book and an easy-to-read-for-everyone book and that was probably the thing that made me not enjoy it much. I felt it as a book with an identity crisis.
My review might sound confusing but that's exactly how I felt after reading it; confused!
The book is something between a serious history reference book and an easy-to-read-for-everyone book and that was probably the thing that made me not enjoy it much. I felt it as a book with an identity crisis.
My review might sound confusing but that's exactly how I felt after reading it; confused!
2 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Andrew
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Imagined communities is a landmark book which has yet to be superseded. It may well be the most significant book you will ever read on the phenomenon of modern nationalism. As a student of Middle East politics I found this book and its concepts invaluable.
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Benedict Anderson wrote, "Nation, nationality, nationalism - all have proved notoriously difficult to define, let alone to analyse. In contrast to the immense influence that nationalism has exerted on the modern world, plausible theory about it is conspicuously meagre. Hugh Seton-Watson, author of far the best and most comprehensive English language text on nationalism, and heir to a vast tradition of liberal historiography and social science, sadly observes: "Thus I am driven to the conclusion that no `scientific definition' of the nation can be devised; yet the phenomenon has existed and exists." Tom Nairn, author of the path-breaking The break-up of Britain, and heir to the scarcely less vast tradition of Marxist historiography and social science, candidly remarks: "The theory of nationalism represents Marxism's great historic failure."
Anderson and Nairn both falsified the history of Marxist writing on the nation by the simple, if dishonest, expedient of ignoring the standard Marxist work on nationalism, Stalin's Marxism and the national question.
Anderson and Nairn both falsified the history of Marxist writing on the nation by the simple, if dishonest, expedient of ignoring the standard Marxist work on nationalism, Stalin's Marxism and the national question.
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Great bargain
I want this book for an academic assignment which I won't need after I have done the assignment, so didn't want to spend too much on it. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2011 by student
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Could Have Been Much Better
Was recommended this book as part of pre-MBA reading. I find it difficult to read and with a strong left bias. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2010 by Saveen Kumar
2.0 out of 5 stars
Badly written though has some good points
This book though not totally without merit could have been condensed into about two pages of useful information. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2007 by Ibrahim Ali
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