Why do we use our nationalities to describe who we are? Why do our politicians claim to stand for 'national values' above all else?
In his new critical study of nationalism, Richard Bosworth explores the origins and purpose of the division of human kindintonationalgroupings.Thebookexploresthehistoryof nationalism, arguing that the present is seeing a dangerous growth of what might be called national fundamentalism. Bosworth suggests that nations work best when they posess the ability to criticise their nationalism.They become menacing when they demand the nationalisation of people's empathy, lauding 'national values', for example, rather than humane or civilized ones. The book demonstrates how the globalising world is seeing a renaissance and adaptation of some of the ideas that were prevalent in the inter-war period, and challenges us to decide whether we should reject nationalist fundamentalismin a civilised world.
