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Key Debates on Nationalism, Tradition, and Identity

Key Debates on Nationalism, Tradition, and Identity. Dr. Ray Casserly. Key Arguments. Hobsbawm – traditions are, at some point, established or invented British Monarchy events Presumed to be longstanding traditions – actually developed in 19 th Century

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Key Debates on Nationalism, Tradition, and Identity

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  1. Key Debates on Nationalism, Tradition, and Identity Dr. Ray Casserly

  2. Key Arguments • Hobsbawm – traditions are, at some point, established or invented • British Monarchy events • Presumed to be longstanding traditions – actually developed in 19th Century • Invented Traditions can include those most recently invented, and easily traceable, to those more long standing events • An Invented Tradition is ‘a set of practices, normally governed by overtly or tacitly accepted rules and of a ritual of a symbolic nature’ • These traditions ‘seek to inculcate certain values and norms of behaviour by repetition which automatically implies continuity with the past’

  3. Distinctions • Difference between Invented Tradition and Custom – Custom is the event/process, tradition is the symbolism i.e. custom refers to what a judge does, traditions is what the judge wears (wig, robes, etc.) • Difference between Invented Tradition and Tradition – tradition is from the base, invented tradition is from the superstructure of society (i.e. not a practical basis, banning of pork in Judaism/Islam).

  4. Examples… • The rebuilding of British Parliament post WWII in the Gothic style • National Holidays • Memorial/Remembrance events • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – why does it work? • Vietnam War Memorial – why does it work? • Eternal flame – why does it work? • Any others?

  5. European Nations and Nationalism • Industrial revolution, and political upheaval, moved people from peasantry to becoming French. • The State now administers the functions for society (education, health, sustenance) • Causes? • Economic? • Political? • Religious?

  6. Where does multiculturalism fit? • Case study: Spanish speaking Latin-Americans hold onto first language for longer • What issues arise from this? • If the nation state promotes equality or difference, it will discriminate at some stage against somebody • With equal rights and duties, minorities will feel cultural distinctiveness is subsumed • On the other hand, extreme promotion of difference inevitable leads to separation (South African example) • What questions does it pose to the USA notion of an ‘Immigrant Nation’, and other nation-states views on liberal pluralism?

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