Description

Book Synopsis
What are the imagined communities that compel men to kill or to die for an idea of a nation? This notion of nationhood had its origins in the founding of the Americas, but was then adopted and transformed by populist movements in nineteenth-century Europe. It became the rallying cry for anti-Imperialism as well as the abiding explanation for colonialism. In this scintillating, groundbreaking work of intellectual history Anderson explores how ideas are formed and reformulated at every level, from high politics to popular culture, and the way that they can make people do extraordinary things. In the twenty-first century, these debates on the nature of the nation state are even more urgent. As new nations rise, vying for influence, and old empires decline, we must understand who we are as a community in the face of history, and change.

Trade Review
Sparkling, readable, densely packed. * Guardian *
Anderson's knowledge of a vast range of relevant historical literature is most impressive; his presentation of the gist of it is both masterly and lucid. * New Statesman *
A brilliant little book. * Neal Ascherson, The Observer *

Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin

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    A Paperback / softback by Benedict Anderson

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      Book details

      Publisher Verso Books
      Published 6 September 2016
      ISBN-13 9781784786755
      978-1784786755
      ISBN-10 1784786756
      Also in:
      History General and world history Nationalism and nationalist ideologies and movements Political science and theory

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      What are the imagined communities that compel men to kill or to die for an idea of a nation? This notion of nationhood had its origins in the founding of the Americas, but was then adopted and transformed by populist movements in nineteenth-century Europe. It became the rallying cry for anti-Imperialism as well as the abiding explanation for colonialism. In this scintillating, groundbreaking work of intellectual history Anderson explores how ideas are formed and reformulated at every level, from high politics to popular culture, and the way that they can make people do extraordinary things. In the twenty-first century, these debates on the nature of the nation state are even more urgent. As new nations rise, vying for influence, and old empires decline, we must understand who we are as a community in the face of history, and change.

      Trade Review
      Sparkling, readable, densely packed. * Guardian *
      Anderson's knowledge of a vast range of relevant historical literature is most impressive; his presentation of the gist of it is both masterly and lucid. * New Statesman *
      A brilliant little book. * Neal Ascherson, The Observer *

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