Periodically, an important book emerges that makes us, through the uniqueness of its theory, perceive history as we have not seen it before. Ernest Gellner has written such a volume. Students of nationalism will have to come to grips with his interpretation of the causes for the emergence of nationalism, since he has declared that most of the previous explanations are largely mythical.- "American Historical Review"
First published in 1983, Nations and Nationalism remains one of the most influential explanations of the emergence of nationalism ever written. This updated edition of Ernest Gellner's now-canonical work includes a new introductory essay from John Breuilly, tracing the way the field has evolved over the past two decades, and a bibliography of important work on nationalism since 1983.
Introduction, by John Breuilly
1. Definitions
State and Nation
The Nation
2. Culture in Agrarian Society
Power and Culture in the Agro-literate Polity Culture
The State in Agrarian Society
The Varieties of Agrarian Rulers
3. Industrial Society
The Society of Perpetual Growth
Social Genetics
The Age of Universal High Culture
4. The Transition to an Age of Nationalism
A Note on the Weakness of Nationalism
Wild and Garden Cultures
5. What is a Nation?
The Course of True Nationalism Never did Run Smooth
6. Social Entropy and Equality in Industrial Society
Obstacles to Entropy
Fissures and Barriers
A Diversity of Focus
7. A Typology of Nationalisms
The Varieties of Nationalist Experience
Diaspora Nationalism
8. The Future of Nationalism
Industrial Culture - One or Many?
9. Nationalism and Ideology
Who is for Nuremberg?
One Nation, One State
10. Conclusion
What is not being Said
Summary
Select Bibliography
Bibliography of Ernest Gellner's Writings on Nationalism, by Ian Jamie
Index
