There is a great debate staged between Ben and Helaina in the comments attached to my previous post (found below). Respectful, informed, incisive, they've really kicked off this blog in the right spirit.
Following in their foot steps, I'd like to open another space for further discursive exchange.
First, I wonder if, proceeding last night's section, any one has given any further thought to two of the questions we posed together:
1) Does nationalism and "nation-ness" grow in proportion to the centralization of the state in which it exists?
and
2)Does nationalism, like the state, require by definition a territorial homeland?
These two questions in particular have been haunting me today, and would welcome critical responses to them.
The answers you give will, I think, help to orient us to the coming section on secession. After all, secession is all about nation-ness, tethered and untethered to a homeland.
In considering your answers to the questions laid above, it might be worthwhile also to ponder a third: When is secession legitimate?
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI'm a little bummed... I wanted to through up a post buuut I guess that is just your deal. In which case, perhaps a post that allows people to articulate their self-identification/understanding of nationality. I've been wondering how the variety would look. This certainly isn't as theoretical as your previous topics but it could be a good way to illustrate the subjective interpretations.
So for me, I id as an American but would fight for the current manifestation of this country. I do not support this senseless war in the Middle East, the corrupted offices, nor the ongoing illegal psychological and biological tests of citizens. However I do contribute to the ideologies of freedom from tyranny, individual liberties, and community resourcing. So.... am I 'nationalist' in any of the way the authors articulate? I feel like the personal interpretation of political agendas are not focused on but rather the cultural/ethnic/etc considerations.
Just some thoughts....
Jessica Somerville