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Ethnosymbolism is a school of thought in the study of nationalism that stresses the importance of symbols, myths, values and traditions in the formation and persistence of the modern nation state.[1]
Developed as a critique of modernist theories of nationalism, ethnosymbolism emphasizes historical roots of nations in drawing on ethnic symbols, myths, values and traditions inherited from earlier ages. Like the modernists, and in contrast to primordialists, ethnosymbolist scholars agree nationalism is a distinctly modern phenomena.[2][3]
The term was first used as "ethno-symbolist approach" in an article by Daniele Conversi, Smith's former student at the London School of Economics. However, Conversi was slightly critical, arguing: "if we focus exclusively on the power of the past and its symbols, we miss two other key features of nationalism: first, its relationship with political power, and particularly with the state; second, its crucial border-generating function".[4]
John A. Armstrong, Anthony D. Smith and John Hutchinson are commonly regarded as key theorists of ethnosymbolism.
- ^ Özkirimli, Umut (2010). Theories of Nationalism: A Critical Introduction (2nd ed.). London: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 143.
- ^ Armstrong, John A. (1982). Nations before Nationalism. University of North Carolina Press. p. 4.
Since the late eighteenth century, nationalism has in many respects become the dominant political doctrine. The right of individuals to [...] establish territorial political structures corresponding to their consciousness of group identity
- ^ Smith, Anthony D. (1998). Nationalism and Modernism. London and New York: Routledge. p. 170.
- ^ Conversi, Daniele (1995). "Reassessing current theories of nationalism: Nationalism as boundary maintenance and creation". Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. 1: 73–85. doi:10.1080/13537119508428421.