Self and Nation Book

Self and Nation is an accessible, lively and highly engaging text which offers a new explanation of issues related to nationhood, nationalism and national identity. We live in a world of nations and are preoccupied with these inherently psychological concerns yet, strangely enough, very little has been written about them from this perspective. This book is unique in this approach, but through broader discussion of these issues, should make essential reading for all students and scholars who need to gain an understanding of, or have an interest in these concerns.The authors ask many questions and challenge common assumptions of what 'national identity' means by addressing key concepts of identity, national character, national history and nationalist psychology. How do constructions of national identity affect the way people act, how they are mobilised, how they transform societies, create nations and reshape nations where they already exist? Self and Nation re-examines the central notions of national identity by illustrating how different versions support attempts to build different types of nations (especially by politicians and activists) and how it is used more widely to organise all aspects of social life. Self and Nation will be essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as researchers in social psychology, politics, sociology and social anthropology.Read More