The Antiquity of Nations by Anthony D Smith

The Antiquity of Nations by Anthony D Smith

In The Antiquity of Nations, Anthony Smith provides a fresh interpretation of the character of modern nations. Departing from conventional wisdom, he argues the case for a deeper understanding of their character, based on an ethno--symbolic analysis of the myths, memories, symbols and traditions of pre--modern ethnic communities.

“Smith views nationalism from the vantage point of a profound knowledge of early history..Smith's articles are always informed, scholarly and worthwhile.”
Ethnic and Racial Studies

“Brings together seven essays by Anthony D. Smith hitherto spread among different journals and an edited book. To these are added two new essays and an excellent introduction ... The essays have been carefully selected and written to produce a coherent, unified and cumulative exploration of the importance of the pre-modern past for the character of modern nations.”
British Journal of Sociology

“Whether you agree with him or not, Anthony D. Smith’s interpretation of nationalism is a position that no serious student of the subject can ignore. It is a powerful case for the historical continuity of much of the national sentiment that permeates the modern era. The book attacks the "myth of the modern nation" and explores a range of critical issues, such as the impact of war on ethnicity and the importance of Romanticism in shaping many aspects of nationalism. This is a definitive and elegant demonstration of the ethno-symbolist perspective on one of the critical forces shaping the contemporary world.”
John Stone, Boston University

“Nationalism has its theoretician: Anthony D. Smith. In this erudite work, he continues to advance our understanding of nationalism by rightly recognizing that its theoretical battleground is the history of nations. Here, the battle is decisively engaged and won.”
Steven Grosby, Clemson University, South Carolina

“Lucid systematic and scholarly; further confirmation of the centrality of the author in the analysis of nations and nationalism.”
David McCrone, University of Edinburgh

Anthony D. Smith is Professor of Ethnicity and Nationalism at the London School of Economics.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780745627465
ISBN 10	0745627463
Title	The Antiquity of Nations
Author	Anthony D Smith
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Polity
Year published	2004-07-15
Number of pages	280
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.