#4: Nationalism: An "Invented Tradition" of "Imagined Communities" скачать в хорошем качестве

#4: Nationalism: An "Invented Tradition" of "Imagined Communities"

Nationalism (1800s) rearranged Western Civilization’s relationship to history and geography by transferring Westerners’ loyalties away from concrete, local communities, and toward abstract, national communities. While nationalist politicians enticed citizens with cultural solidarity, government bureaucracies coerced them into social conformity. ARGUMENTS: The origins of Western nationalism relied on four key factors: (1) The Enlightenment shifted national political power from aristocrats to the bourgeoisie. Thus, 19th century bourgeoisie created and spread invented traditions about their new nations to legitimate their new power. (2) The Romantic Movement (i.e., Romanticism) reacted against the Enlightenment by promoting nationalism via feeling and emotion, rather than logic and reason. Thus, “Romantic” nationalists “invented” national traditions and glorified national mythologies over historical accuracy. (3) Industrialization required standardized workers and consumers, managed by corporate bureaucracies. Thus, industrial society promoted social conformity necessary for an integrated and powerful national economy. (4) The Expanding State absorbed new social functions (e.g., education and healthcare) and exercised growing control over the nation via government bureaucracies. Thus, public education and military conscription unified large (and therefore abstract) national populations as imagined communities. Audio Credit: Jon Dexter