The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere
This article challenges the standard narrative (e.g. Gellner) regarding the origins of modern nationalism in Europe, and Benedict Anderson's contrary suggestion that it first took shape in creole America, arguing instead that the formation of modern nationalism needs to be understood as a trans...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | unknown |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.socresonline.org.uk/14/5/12/12.pdf |
id |
ftrepec:oai:RePEc:sro:srosro:2009-75-2 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftrepec:oai:RePEc:sro:srosro:2009-75-2 2023-05-15T17:28:32+02:00 The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere Jonathan Hearn http://www.socresonline.org.uk/14/5/12/12.pdf unknown http://www.socresonline.org.uk/14/5/12/12.pdf article ftrepec 2020-12-04T13:34:36Z This article challenges the standard narrative (e.g. Gellner) regarding the origins of modern nationalism in Europe, and Benedict Anderson's contrary suggestion that it first took shape in creole America, arguing instead that the formation of modern nationalism needs to be understood as a transatlantic process, in keeping with recent research on Atlantic history. More specifically, the North Atlantic dynamic of imperial competition between Britain and France, that led to the American and French Revolutions, is seen as the crucible of modern state formation, and it is argued that the North Atlantic needs to be understood not simply as a geographic space, but as a distinctive sphere of social and ideological interaction, given the centrality of sea-going during this period. It was this complex social environment, centred on a long18th century, that most provoked new imaginings of national community. Toward this end the article articulates the analytic concept of the 'interaction sphere'. With this it picks up on Charles Tilly's key concerns with how best to analyse large historical processes, and his emphasis on political competition and social interaction in explaining social change. Origins of Nationalism, Interaction Spheres, Social Change, Charles Tilly, Revolutions, Empires, Atlantic History Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) Benedict ENVELOPE(-66.585,-66.585,-66.157,-66.157) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) |
op_collection_id |
ftrepec |
language |
unknown |
description |
This article challenges the standard narrative (e.g. Gellner) regarding the origins of modern nationalism in Europe, and Benedict Anderson's contrary suggestion that it first took shape in creole America, arguing instead that the formation of modern nationalism needs to be understood as a transatlantic process, in keeping with recent research on Atlantic history. More specifically, the North Atlantic dynamic of imperial competition between Britain and France, that led to the American and French Revolutions, is seen as the crucible of modern state formation, and it is argued that the North Atlantic needs to be understood not simply as a geographic space, but as a distinctive sphere of social and ideological interaction, given the centrality of sea-going during this period. It was this complex social environment, centred on a long18th century, that most provoked new imaginings of national community. Toward this end the article articulates the analytic concept of the 'interaction sphere'. With this it picks up on Charles Tilly's key concerns with how best to analyse large historical processes, and his emphasis on political competition and social interaction in explaining social change. Origins of Nationalism, Interaction Spheres, Social Change, Charles Tilly, Revolutions, Empires, Atlantic History |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jonathan Hearn |
spellingShingle |
Jonathan Hearn The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere |
author_facet |
Jonathan Hearn |
author_sort |
Jonathan Hearn |
title |
The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere |
title_short |
The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere |
title_full |
The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere |
title_fullStr |
The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere |
title_sort |
origins of modern nationalism in the north atlantic interaction sphere |
url |
http://www.socresonline.org.uk/14/5/12/12.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-66.585,-66.585,-66.157,-66.157) |
geographic |
Benedict |
geographic_facet |
Benedict |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_relation |
http://www.socresonline.org.uk/14/5/12/12.pdf |
_version_ |
1766121266917408768 |