Billig, Michael. Banal Nationalism. London: Sage Publications, 1995.
(extracts)
---------------------------
"... there is something misleading about this accepted use of the
word `nationalism'. It always seems to locate nationalism on the
periphery. Separatists are often to be found in the outer regions of
states; the extremists lurk on the margins of political life in
established democracies, usually shunned by the sensible politicians
of the centre. The guerrilla figures, seeking to establish their new
homelands, operate in conditions where existing structures of state
have collapsed, typically at a distance from the established centres
of the West. From the perspective of Paris, peripherally placed on
the edge of Europe. All these factors combine to make nationalism
not merely an exotic force, but a peripheral one. In consequence,
those in established nations â at the centre of things â are led to
see nationalism as the property of others, not of `us'.
"This is where the accepted view becomes misleading: it overlooks
the nationalism of the West's nation-states. In a world of nation-
states, nationalism cannot be confined to the peripheries. That
might be conceded, but still it might be objected that nationalism
only strikes the established nation-states on special occasions.
Crises, such as the Falklands or Gulf Wars, infect a sore spot,
causing bodily fevers: the symptoms are an inflamed rhetoric and an
outbreak of ensigns. But the irruption soon dies down; the
temperature passes; the flags are rolled up; and, then, it is
business as usual." (p. 5)
---------------------------
"... the term banal nationalism is introduced to cover the
ideological habits which enable the established nations of the West
to be reproduced. It is argued that these habits are not removed
from everyday life, as some observers have supposed. Daily, the
nation is indicated, or `flagged', in the lives of its citizenry.
Nationalism, far from being an intermittent mood in established
nations, is the endemic condition." (p.6)
---------------------------
"The central thesis of the present book is that, in the established
nations, there is a continual `flagging', or reminding, of
nationhood. The established nations are those states that have
confidence in their own continuity, and that, particularly, are part
of what is conventionally described as `the West'. The political
leaders of such nations â whether France, the USA, the United
Kingdom or New Zealand â are not typically termed `nationalists'.
However, as will be suggested, nationhood provides a continual
background for their political discourses, for cultural products,
and even for the structuring of newspapers. In so many little ways,
the citizenry are daily reminded of their national place in a world
of nations. However, this reminding is so familiar, so continual,
that it is not consciously registered as reminding. The metonymic
image of banal nationalism is not a flag which is being consciously
waved with fervent passion; it is the flag hanging unnoticed on the
public building.
"National identity embraces all these forgotten reminders.
Consequently, an identity is to be found in the embodied habits of
social life. Such habits include those of thinking and using
language. To have a national identity is to possess ways of talking
about nationhood. As a number of critical social psychologists have
been emphasizing, the social psychological study of identity should
involve the detailed study of discourseâ¦. Having a national identity
also involves being situated physically, legally, socially, as well
as emotionally: typically, it means being situated within a
homeland, which itself is situated within the world of nations. And,
only if people believe that they have national identities, will such
homelands, and the world of national homelands, be reproduced.
"In many ways, this book itself aims to be a reminder. Because the
concept of nationalism has been restricted to exotic and passionate
exemplars, the routine and familiar forms of nationalism have been
overlooked. In this case, `our' daily nationalism slips from
attention. There is a growing body of opinion that nation-states are
declining. Nationalism, or so it is said, is no longer a major
force: globalization is the order of the day. But a reminder is
necessary. Nationhood is still being reproduced: it can still call
for ultimate sacrifices; and, daily, its symbols and assumptions are
flagged." (pp.8-9)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(extracts)
---------------------------
"... there is something misleading about this accepted use of the
word `nationalism'. It always seems to locate nationalism on the
periphery. Separatists are often to be found in the outer regions of
states; the extremists lurk on the margins of political life in
established democracies, usually shunned by the sensible politicians
of the centre. The guerrilla figures, seeking to establish their new
homelands, operate in conditions where existing structures of state
have collapsed, typically at a distance from the established centres
of the West. From the perspective of Paris, peripherally placed on
the edge of Europe. All these factors combine to make nationalism
not merely an exotic force, but a peripheral one. In consequence,
those in established nations â at the centre of things â are led to
see nationalism as the property of others, not of `us'.
"This is where the accepted view becomes misleading: it overlooks
the nationalism of the West's nation-states. In a world of nation-
states, nationalism cannot be confined to the peripheries. That
might be conceded, but still it might be objected that nationalism
only strikes the established nation-states on special occasions.
Crises, such as the Falklands or Gulf Wars, infect a sore spot,
causing bodily fevers: the symptoms are an inflamed rhetoric and an
outbreak of ensigns. But the irruption soon dies down; the
temperature passes; the flags are rolled up; and, then, it is
business as usual." (p. 5)
---------------------------
"... the term banal nationalism is introduced to cover the
ideological habits which enable the established nations of the West
to be reproduced. It is argued that these habits are not removed
from everyday life, as some observers have supposed. Daily, the
nation is indicated, or `flagged', in the lives of its citizenry.
Nationalism, far from being an intermittent mood in established
nations, is the endemic condition." (p.6)
---------------------------
"The central thesis of the present book is that, in the established
nations, there is a continual `flagging', or reminding, of
nationhood. The established nations are those states that have
confidence in their own continuity, and that, particularly, are part
of what is conventionally described as `the West'. The political
leaders of such nations â whether France, the USA, the United
Kingdom or New Zealand â are not typically termed `nationalists'.
However, as will be suggested, nationhood provides a continual
background for their political discourses, for cultural products,
and even for the structuring of newspapers. In so many little ways,
the citizenry are daily reminded of their national place in a world
of nations. However, this reminding is so familiar, so continual,
that it is not consciously registered as reminding. The metonymic
image of banal nationalism is not a flag which is being consciously
waved with fervent passion; it is the flag hanging unnoticed on the
public building.
"National identity embraces all these forgotten reminders.
Consequently, an identity is to be found in the embodied habits of
social life. Such habits include those of thinking and using
language. To have a national identity is to possess ways of talking
about nationhood. As a number of critical social psychologists have
been emphasizing, the social psychological study of identity should
involve the detailed study of discourseâ¦. Having a national identity
also involves being situated physically, legally, socially, as well
as emotionally: typically, it means being situated within a
homeland, which itself is situated within the world of nations. And,
only if people believe that they have national identities, will such
homelands, and the world of national homelands, be reproduced.
"In many ways, this book itself aims to be a reminder. Because the
concept of nationalism has been restricted to exotic and passionate
exemplars, the routine and familiar forms of nationalism have been
overlooked. In this case, `our' daily nationalism slips from
attention. There is a growing body of opinion that nation-states are
declining. Nationalism, or so it is said, is no longer a major
force: globalization is the order of the day. But a reminder is
necessary. Nationhood is still being reproduced: it can still call
for ultimate sacrifices; and, daily, its symbols and assumptions are
flagged." (pp.8-9)
---------------------------------------------------------------------