The Theory of Nationhood : A Platonic Symposium

An innovative and entertaining examination of the theory of nationalism. Derek Heater brings together the seven most influential - for good or evil - European thinkers on nationalism from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century. Herder, Fichte, Mazzini, Mill, Renan, Hitler and Stalin together debate their ideas in a platonic symposium, using the words from their own works in the central part of the book. The first part of the book introduces each thinker in the appropriate historical context, while the third part considers judgements on their thought. An Innovative And Entertaining Examination Of Different Approaches To The Theory Of Nationhood In Europe From The Late Eighteenth Century To The Early Twentieth Century Which Focuses On The Ideas Of The Seven Most Influential Thinkers - For Good Or Evil. These Are: Herder, Fichte, Mazzini, J.s. Mill, Renan, Hitler And Stalin. The Book Is Divided Into Three Parts. Part I Analyses The Contexts In Which These Men Thought And Wrote. Part Ii Is Organised In The Form Of A Platonically Styled Symposium Where The Reader Is Asked To Imagine The Seven Men Convened, Under The Chairmanship Of An Historian, To Repeat The Words From Their Own Works. By This Device Their Views On The Components Of The Theory Of Nationhood Are Juxtaposed And Brought Into The Sharp Reliefs Of Similarities And Contrasts. Part Iii Considers Judgements On The Originality, Quality And Influence Of Their Work. Derek Heater. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 168-188) And Index. "An innovative and entertaining examination of different approaches to the theory of nationhood in Europe from the late eighteenth century to the early twentieth century which focuses on the ideas of the seven most influential thinkers - for good or evil. These are: Herder, Fichte, Mazzini, J.S. Mill, Renan, Hitler and Stalin." "The book is divided into three parts. Part I analyses the contexts in which these men thought and wrote. Part II is organised in the form of a platonically styled symposium where the reader is asked to imagine the seven men convened, under the chairmanship of an historian, to repeat the words from their own works. By this device their views on the components of the theory of nationhood are juxtaposed and brought into the sharp reliefs of similarities and contrasts. Part III considers judgements on the originality, quality and influence of their work."--Jacket An innovative and entertaining examination of different approaches to the theory of nationhood in Europe from the late eighteenth century to the early twentieth century which focuses on the ideas of the seven most influential thinkers - for good or evil. These are: Herder, Fichte, Mazzini, J. S. Mill, Renan, Hitler and Stalin. The book is divided into three parts. Part I analyses the contexts in which these men thought and wrote. Part II is organised in the form of a platonically styled symposium where the reader is asked to imagine the seven men convened, under the chairmanship of an historian, to repeat the words from their own works. By this device their views on the components of the theory of nationhood are juxtaposed and brought into the sharp reliefs of similarities and contrasts. Part III considers judgements on the originality, quality and influence of their work. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Explanations....Pages 3-8 Contexts....Pages 9-60 Front Matter....Pages 61-61 First Session: The Nature of Nations....Pages 63-81 Second Session: Political and Social Contexts....Pages 82-96 Third Session: Rights and Characters of Nations....Pages 97-108 Fourth Session: The Individual and the Nation....Pages 109-115 Front Matter....Pages 117-117 Judgements....Pages 119-159 Comparisons....Pages 160-167 Back Matter....Pages 168-196