Identifying with Nationality: Europeans, Ottomans, and Egyptians in Alexandria (Columbia Studies in International and Global History)

Nationality is the most important legal mechanism sorting and classifying the world's population today. An individual's place of birth or naturalization determines where he or she can and cannot be and what he or she can and cannot do. Although this system may appear universal, even natural, Will Hanley shows that it arose just a century ago. In Identifying with Nationality, he uses the Mediterranean city of Alexandria to develop a genealogy of the nation and the formation of the modern national subject. Alexandria in 1880 was an immigrant boomtown ruled by dozens of overlapping regimes. On its streets and in its police stations and courtrooms, people were identified by name, occupation, place of origin, sect, physical description, and other attributes. Yet by 1914, before nationalist calls for independence and decolonization had become widespread, nationality had become the defining category of identification, and nationality laws came to govern Alexandria's population. Identifying with Nationality traces the advent of modern citizenship to multinational, transimperial settings such as turn-of-the-century colonial Alexandria, where ordinary people abandoned old identifiers and grasped nationality as the best means to access the protections promised by expanding states. The result was a system that continues to define and divide people through status, mobility, and residency. Nationality Is The Most Important Legal Mechanism For Sorting And Classifying The World's Population Today. An Individual's State Of Birth Or Naturalization Determines Where He Or She Can And Cannot Be And What He Or She Can And Cannot Do. Although This System May Appear Universal, Even Natural, Will Hanley Shows It Arose Just A Century Ago. He Uses The Multinational Mediterranean City Of Alexandria To Trace A Genealogy Of The Nation And The Formation Of The Modern Subject. Alexandria In 1880 Was An Immigrant Boomtown Ruled By Dozens Of Overlapping Regimes. On Its Streets And In Its Police Stations And Courtrooms, People Were Identified According To Name, Occupation, Place Of Origin, Sect, Physical Description, And Other Attributes. By 1914, Nationality Had Become The Leading Category Of Identification. Even Before Nationalist Claims For Independence And Decolonization Were Widespread, Nationality Laws Governed Alexandria's Population. Identifying With Nationality Traces The Advent Of Modern National Citizenships To Multinational, Transimperial Settings Such As Turn-of-the-century Colonial Alexandria. Ordinary Individuals Abandoned Old Identifiers And Grasped Nationality As The Best Means To Access The Protections Promised By Expanding States, Creating A Problematic System That Continues To Complicate Rules Of Status, Mobility, And Residency. Introduction : Nationality Grasped -- Part I. Settings. Vulgar Cosmopolitanism -- Keywords -- Part Ii. Means. Papers -- Census -- Money -- Marriage -- Part Iii. Other Nationalities. Europeans -- Foreigners -- Protégés -- Bad Subjects -- Ottomans -- Locals -- Epilogue : Egyptians In A World Of Universal Nationality. Will Hanley. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. List of Illustrations List of Tables Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction: Nationality Grasped Part I: Settings 1. Vulgar Cosmopolitanism 2. Keywords Part II: Means 3. Papers 4. Census 5. Money 6. Marriage Part III: Other Nationalities 7. Europeans 8. Foreigners 9. Proteges 10. Bad Subjects 11. Ottomans 12. Locals Epilogue: Egyptians in a World of Universal Nationality Notes Bibliography Index