Synopses & Reviews
Nationalism and the prevalence of ethnic conflict are features of contemporary politics. Many commentators have viewed such conflicts as a return to some primitive impulse. Andreas Wimmer's book argues that nationalism is in fact characteristic of the modern world, deriving from the nature of the state. He argues that the nation-state rests on membership of a particular ethnic or national group, and the exclusion of non-members, creating the potential for conflict. Containing detailed studies of Mexico, Iraq and Switzerland, this is an original contribution to a topical debate.
Review
"...engaging, well-written, and well-organized...The author illustrates his argument with excellent case studies..." American Journal of Sociology
Synopsis
Modern societies are not as inclusive as social scientists tend to suggest. Equality and participation are reserved for members of an ethno-national group with a privileged relation to the state. In the West, immigrants are excluded from full citizenship, and in developing countries the state is often dominated by a particular ethnic group. Wimmer thus argues that nationalist exclusion, xenophobia and ethnic conflict are integral to a modern society that is politically fragmented into nation states. His theoretical analysis is supported by detailed studies of Mexico, Iraq and Switzerland.
Synopsis
Modern societies are not as inclusive as social scientists tend to suggest. Equality and participation are reserved for members of an ethno-national group with a privileged relation to the state. In the West, immigrants are excluded from full citizenship, and in developing countries the state is often dominated by a particular ethnic group. Wimmer thus argues that nationalist exclusion, xenophobia and ethnic conflict are integral to a modern society that is politically fragmented into nation states. His theoretical analysis is supported by detailed studies of Mexico, Iraq and Switzerland.
About the Author
Andreas Wimmer is Professor of Political and Cultural Change and Director at the Center for Development Studies of the University of Bonn.
Table of Contents
Introduction; Part I. Theoretical Explorations: 1. Compromise and closure: a theory of social dynamics; 2. The making of modern communities; Part II. State Building and Ethnic Conflict: 3. Who owns the state? Ethnic conflicts after the end of empires; 4. Nationalism and ethnic mobilisation in Mexico; 5. From empire to ethnocracy. Iraq since the Ottomans; Part III. The Politics of Exclusion in Nationalised States: 6. Racism and xenophobia; 7. Nationalising multi-ethnic Switzerland.