L6. Nations and Nation-States

Question 1

Why is our state system based off Europe?

Answer 1

• Nation as a base of political organization emerged out of Europe, then colonization spread it around
• Assumed as normal now, but other parts of the world see it as a deviation (contemporary scholarships tries to flip normative assumptions as well)

Question 2

What is the primordial theory?

Answer 2

Idea that nations have ancient roots that exist outside history
- members of the same nation have similar characteristics (looks, language, culture) because nations have been discrete since ancient times
- define themselves by looking back in time
- strongly tied to practice of nationalism

Question 3

What is the modernist perspective on nations?

Answer 3

• nations are modern inventions (post 17th century)
• nations are tied to contemporary political interests

Question 4

What was Benedict Anderson’s perspective on nations?

Answer 4

• “imagined communities”
• nations are communities
• Since you can’t meet everyone in your nation personally it is a indirect or imagined community
• technology makes a nation possible by letting the community access the same things (ex. radio or printing press)

Question 5

What was Ernest Gellner perspective on nations?

Answer 5

“culture and obligations”
-The nation and a culture group sharing a common culture (nations are the ones that recognize this)
- This recognition creates mutual rights and obligations between individuals
(I expect to help you, and for you to help me)

Question 6

What was Eric Hobsbawn perspective on nations?

Answer 6

“culture and obligations II; invented traditions”
- Expanding on Gellner, Hobsbawm claims there is not just an obligation, but a duty (Not just to individuals, but also to institutions)
- Insofar as the state represents a nation, you have a duty to the state (during times of crisis like war)
- In normal times, overrides other public (civil society) obligations - but not private (family) obligations

Question 7

When was the most active period of nation making

Answer 7

19th century Europe

Question 8

What is a nation-state

Answer 8

a nation and a state coincide
- assumes the existence of modern states

Question 9

Define Nationalism

Answer 9

a political movement that seeks to create a state for a particular nation
- assumes the existence of modern states

Question 10

Write out the history of nation-making in Europe during the 19th century

Answer 10

1815: Congress of Vienna
- lots of wars
- agreement between the 4 great powers; British, Austrian, Russian, Prussian
- most state boundaries don’t line up with ethnic groups
1850-1900: Europe
- Borders change (consolidations)
- Many solidifying wars (ex. Germany and Italy both fragmented and then solidified)
- National identity acting as a unifying force
1920: Borders
- End of WWI
- Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Consequences of the failures of 1848