The origins and uses of nationalism

Review essay of Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism by Benedict Anderson

Nationalism emerged as a decisive political force in the 19^th century, eventually leading to the formation of hundreds of nation-states. It created a new kind of us-them dynamic: people outside of “membership” or the border were excluded. On the inside, it was a project of power consolidation, myth-making, and the opening of career avenues to self-appoi…