Nationhood at Work: An Ethnography of Workplaces in Montreal and Brussels (Cultures of Society)

How do nations continue to be made on a daily basis? In this important contribution to nationalism studies, Dave Poitras explores how nationhood and the idea of living in a world of nations are experienced in the cities of Montreal and Brussels. Drawing on ethnographic research, he identifies three typical ways of enacting nationhood in workplaces, thereby capturing the various dynamics through which non-political actors "do nationhood". In particular, Dave Poitras examines the distinct mechanisms whereby nations are made and demonstrates how individuals' everyday activities legitimize Montreal's and Brussels's unique social constellation within their respective federal state. Long description: How do nations continue to be made on a daily basis? In this important contribution to nationalism studies, Dave Poitras explores how nationhood and the idea of living in a world of nations are experienced in the cities of Montreal and Brussels. Drawing on ethnographic research, he identifies three typical ways of enacting nationhood in workplaces, thereby capturing the various dynamics through which non-political actors do nationhood. In particular, Dave Poitras examines the distinct mechanisms whereby nations are made and demonstrates how individuals' everyday activities legitimize Montreal's and Brussels's unique social constellation within their respective federal state Content Preface Section 1. Five Work Tasks and Three Modes of Operating Nationhood Chapter 1. Building Nations as a Profession: The Work Task Dynamic Operating upon Nationhood Chapter 2. Elaborating National Constructs as Strategies: The Work Task Dynamic Operating with Nationhood Chapter 3. The Power of States and Routines: The Work Task Dynamic Operated by Nationhood Section 2. The Unquestionability of a World Divided into Nations Chapter 4. Doing Nationhood and Making Nations: The Everyday Significance of Living in a World of Nations Chapter 5. Lived Nationhood in Montreal and Brussels: A Model Particular to Bi-Ethnonational Milieus Conclusion Bibliography How are nations (continued to be) made? In this important contribution to nationalism studies, Dave Poitras explores how nationhood and the idea of living in a world of nations are experienced in the cities of Montreal and Brussels. Drawing on ethnographic research, he identifies three typical ways of enacting nationhood, thereby capturing the various dynamics through which non-political actors "do nationhood". In particular, Poitras explores the question of marginalization in bi-ethnonational milieus, demonstrating how bi-ethnicity is hegemonic in Brussels and Montreal because it is legitimized by individuals' everyday activities. Biographical note: Dave Poitras (Dr. phil.), born in 1985, obtained his PhD in sociology within the International Research Training Group Diversity: Mediating Difference in Transcultural Spaces at the University of Trier, Germany. His research project included several stays abroad at the collaborating Université de Montréal as well as in Brussels for fieldwork activities. His research interests are nationalism, everyday life, migration as well as diversity