Eric Storm, "Nationalism: A World History" (Princeton UP, 2024)

Jan 1, 2025

Eric Storm, a Dutch historian and author of "Nationalism: A World History," dives into the intricate evolution of nationalism from the 18th century to contemporary movements. He reveals how nationalism shapes cultural identity through arts, media, and even consumerism. Storm discusses the birth of the nation-state during the French Revolution and contrasts nationalist narratives worldwide, emphasizing shared patterns. He also tackles the impact of neoliberalism on national identity and challenges faced by post-empire federations, showcasing nationalism's pervasive influence.

Ask episode

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 2min

Exploring Global Nationalism

01:57 • 7min

The Birth of the Nation State in the French Revolution

09:07 • 6min

The Evolution of Nationalism and Cultural Identity

14:59 • 22min

The Challenges of Post-Empire Federations

37:19 • 3min

Nationalism in the Age of Neoliberalism

40:21 • 8min

The current rise of nationalism across the globe is a reminder that we are not, after all, living in a borderless world of virtual connectivity. In Nationalism: A World History (Princeton UP, 2024), historian Eric Storm sheds light on contemporary nationalist movements by exploring the global evolution of nationalism, beginning with the rise of the nation-state in the eighteenth century through the revival of nationalist ideas in the present day. Storm traces the emergence of the unitary nation-state--which brought citizenship rights to some while excluding a multitude of "others"--and the pervasive spread of nationalist ideas through politics and culture.

Storm shows how nationalism influences the arts and humanities, mapping its dissemination through newspapers, television, and social media. Sports and tourism, too, have helped fashion a world of discrete nations, each with its own character, heroes, and highlights. Nationalism saturates the physical environment, not only in the form of national museums and patriotic statues but also in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, create national parks, invent ethnic dishes and beverages, promote traditional building practices, and cultivate native plants. Nationalism has even been used for selling cars, furniture, and fashion.

By tracing these tendencies across countries, Storm shows that nationalism's watershed moments were global. He argues that the rise of new nation-states was largely determined by shifts in the international context, that the relationships between nation-states and their citizens largely developed according to global patterns, and that worldwide intellectual trends influenced the nationalization of both culture and environment. Over the centuries, nationalism has transformed both geopolitics and the everyday life of ordinary people.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science