Common wisdom has long held that the ascent of the modern nation coincided with the flowering of Enlightenment democracy and the decline of religion; ringing in an age of tolerant; inclusive; liberal states. Not so; demonstrates Anthony W. Marx in this landmark work of revisionist political history and analysis. In a startling departure from a historical consensus that has dominated views of nationalism for the past quarter century; Marx argues that European nationalism emerged two centuries earlier; in the early modern era; as a form of mass political engagement based on religious conflict; intolerance; and exclusion. Challenging the self-congratulatory geneaology of civic Western nationalism; Marx shows how state-builders attempted to create a sense of national solidarity to support their burgeoning authority. Key to this process was the transfer of power from local to central rulers; the most suitable vehicle for effecting this transfer was religion and fanatical passions. Religious intolerance--specifically the exclusion of religious minorities from the nascent state--provided the glue that bonded the remaining populations together. Out of this often violent religious intolerance grew popular nationalist sentiment. Only after a core and exclusive nationality was formed in England and France; and less successfully in Spain; did these countries move into the "enlightened" 19th century; all the while continuing to export intolerance and exclusion to overseas colonies. Providing an explicitly political theory of early nation-building; rather than an account emphasizing economic imperatives or literary imaginings; Marx reveals that liberal; secular Western political traditions were founded on the basis of illiberal; intolerant origins. His provocative account also suggests that present-day exclusive and violent nation-building; or efforts to form solidarity through cultural or religious antagonisms; are not fundamentally different from the West's own earlier experiences.
#32380 in Books David M Kennedy 2001-04-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.19 x 2.25 x 9.19l; 2.96 #File Name: 0195144031936 pagesFreedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War; 1929-1945 (Oxford History of the United States)
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Unbiased; honest; in-depth American history seriesBy OK Cards FanAs homeschoolers; we were looking for an American history resource that was reasonably unbiased; honest; and offered enough depth and nuance to be interesting. The Oxford University Press series on American history is highly recommended. Much better than the history books I had when I was in high school!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Wonderfully researched and extremely readableBy Jim JohnsonI have just finished this book; reading until 2:30 am to cover the last few pages; and am grateful for; and educated; and entertained by this wonderful book. I have always been drawn to histories of the war years; but usually encountered works much more limited in scope. This book is comprehensive; and I cannot even imagine the effort and time that went into writing it.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great timely read with all too many comparisons to today.By PatriciaDavid Kennedy has put together the players in the Great Depression for us to understand. While he praises Hoover more than the public view of his inability to deal with the depression; Hovers ideas were put together by FDR. His critical view of FDR's early actions did transform both the Democratic and Republican parties. FDR's ability to cross over to the progressive Republicans and reject the Southern Democrats realigned the two parties. This may have lead us to the grid lock of today. In the 1930's the parties both included progressives and conservatives. The focus on the emerging world leaders makes the background of this tragic event and the war to follow understood to those to young to remember.
