Book/Film Review- 3
Imagined Community
By- Benedict Anderson
Rawat Publications, Rs- 799/.
‘Imagined Community’, a book on the origins and spread of nationalism; written by Benedict Anderson- a prominent professor of International Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, is a highly-researched-document in the field of International Relation literature.
This book is appreciated in scholastic manner and it finds its space on top among academicians, journalists and the students of world affairs to sort out the confusions on nationalism. The Guardian writes this book is ‘sparkling, readable, and densely packed.’ And, the Academic Library Book Review praises as a book to owned, and read, and re-read and treasured.
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| Imagined Community book cover (R. Suresh Bhardwaj Picture) |
Although I have been a student of political science, and enjoy a little
knowledge of international relations but I am not perfect guy to jot down the
review of this book because I carry no expertise of the subject and any research
experience in this field. I am writing this piece only to point out the
contents of this book.
The book unfolds the answer of the question ‘what makes people live and
die for nations, as well as hate and kill in their name?’ Benedict Anderson argues that the
nation is a new, modern phenomenon. The 17th and 18th century witnessed the
demise of previous forms of political bodies that were shaped by a sacred
language and dynastic power. It is through the emergence of
print-capitalism—the technological, mass production of newspapers and the novel
and the spread of vernacular print languages—that individuals could think of
themselves and relate to others in different ways.
His second contribution is the historical argument regarding the models
of nations and nationalisms. The earliest nations and nationalist movements
emerged in ‘creole communities’—descendants of white European settlers in the
North and South Americas.
The third of his contribution is official nationalism and imperialism,
seen in Russia, Japan, Thailand, England and Hungary. This form of nationalism
is a defensive, conservative response by monarchs to popular and linguistic
nationalists.
The fourth model of nationalism develops out of the colonial context and
institutions of education, bureaucracy, and movement in Asia and Africa by the
administrative, educated, bilingual intelligentsia.
Anderson conceptualizes many long-lasting terms like Russification, French Revolution as concept of revolution, Bolshevik revolutionary model, Nationalisms from the New World and Print-capitalism.
Partha Chatterjee as a main contender, who argues that print capitalism is a simplistic and linear argument and does not consider asymmetrical power relations of colonial context. The feminist criticises Anderson’s argument as a male phenomenon, understanding fraternity eliding gender, class and race. For more, readers should go through the book.
A good book on nationalism to read, but not for general reading!
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