Grounded Nationalisms

Globalisation is not the enemy of nationalism; instead, as this book shows, the two forces have developed together through modern history. Male&&&353;evi&&&263; challenges dominant views which see nationalism as a declining social force. He explains why the recent escalations of populist nationalism throughout the world do not represent a social anomaly but are, in fact, a historical norm. By focusing on ever-increasing organisational capacity, greater ideological penetration and networks of micro-solidarity, Male&&&353;evi&&&263; shows how and why nationalism has become deeply grounded in the everyday life of modern human beings. The author explores the social dynamics of these grounded nationalisms via an analysis of varied contexts, from Ireland to the Balkans. His findings show that increased ideological diffusion and the rising coercive capacities of states and other organisations have enabled nationalism to expand and establish itself as the dominant operative ideology of modernity.

'Most people believe the world is naturally divided into nations, and they proudly belong to one of them. By applying the methods of historical sociology to cases such as nationalism in the Balkans and private military contractors in recent wars, Male&&&353;evi&&&263; challenges this 'common sense' persuasively arguing that nationalism is 'grounded' in the growing organisational power and ideological penetration of the modern nation-state.' John Breuilly, London School of Economics and Political Science

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