On NationalityNationalism is a dominating force in contemporary politics, but political philosophers have been markedly reluctant to discuss, let alone endorse, nationalist ideas. In this book David Miller defends the principle of nationality. He argues that national identities are valid sources of personal identity; that we are justified in recognizing special obligations to our co-nationals; that nations have good grounds for wanting to be politically self-determining; but that recognizing the claims of nationality does not entail suppressing other sources of personal identity, such as ethnicity. Finally, he considers the claim that national identities are dissolving in the late twentieth century. This timely and provocative book offers the most compelling defence to date of nationality from a radical perspective. Series description Oxford Political Theory presents the best new work in contemporary political theory. It is intended to be broad in scope, including original contributions to political philosophy, and also work in applied political theory. The series will contain works of outstanding quality with no restriction as to approach or subject matter. |
Contents
| 1 | |
NATIONAL IDENTITY | 17 |
THE ETHICS OF NATIONALITY | 49 |
NATIONAL SELFDETERMINATION | 81 |
NATIONALITY AND CULTURAL PLURALISM | 119 |
NATIONALITY IN DECLINE? | 155 |
CONCLUSION | 183 |
Bibliography | 197 |
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Common terms and phrases
American argued argument autonomy basic rights beliefs boundaries Britain British identity Cambridge chapter citizens citizenship claim Clarendon Press Communitarian compatriots constitutional cultural groups cultural pluralism deliberative democracy demands depend distinct duties economic equal ethnic groups European example favour French George Orwell H. B. Acton historical human ical idea of nationality iden immigration individuals instance institutions interests issue J. S. Mill justified kind Kymlicka language legitimate liberal democracies London loyalty means minorities moral multiculturalism multiculturalist Nagorny Karabakh nation-state national community national culture national identity national self-determination nationalist nationhood Nations and Nationalism obligations Oxford particular particularist person perspective pluralism political community Political Theory practice Princeton principle of nationality protect public culture question radical reason regard religious requires scheme secession sense share simply social justice society territory tion traditional universalist University Press values voluntary association
Popular passages
Page 43 - He who lets the world, or his own portion of it, choose his plan of life for him, has no need of any other faculty than the ape-like one of imitation.
Page 86 - French power — than to sulk on his own rocks, the half-savage relic of past times, revolving in his own little mental orbit, without participation or interest in the general movement of the world. The same remark applies to the Welshman or the Scottish Highlander as members of the British nation.
Page 171 - And other countries", said the foreign gentleman. "They do how?" "They do, Sir," returned Mr Podsnap, gravely shaking his head; "they do - I am sorry to be obliged to say it - as they do.
Page 133 - A repoliticization of public life should not require the creation of a unified public realm in which citizens leave behind their particular group affiliations, histories, and needs to discuss a general interest or common good.
Page 171 - But the lumpy gentleman, unwilling to give it up, again madly said, 'ESKER/ and again spake no more. 'It merely referred/ Mr Podsnap explained, with a sense of meritorious proprietorship, 'to Our Constitution, Sir. We Englishmen are Very Proud of our Constitution, Sir. It Was Bestowed Upon Us By Providence. No Other Country is so Favoured as This Country.
Page 11 - Britons, Swedes, etc at large. But it is to claim that a proper account of ethics should give weight to national boundaries, and that in particular there is no objection in principle to institutional schemes that are designed to deliver benefits exclusively to those who fall within the same boundaries as ourselves.
Page 36 - Just because patriotism is all but universal and not even the rich are uninfluenced by it, there can be moments when the whole nation suddenly swings together and does the same thing, like a herd of cattle facing a wolf.
Page 58 - ... at most, beyond their native country. Being thus acquainted with the nature of man, we expect not any impossibilities from him ; but confine our view to that narrow circle, in which any person moves, in order to form a judgment of his moral character. When the natural tendency of his passions leads him to be serviceable and useful within his sphere, we approve of his character, and love his person, by a sympathy with the sentiments of those, who have a more particular connexion with him.
Page 37 - The belief that we resemble our ancestors — that Shakespeare, say, is more like a modern Englishman than a modern Frenchman or German — may be unreasonable, but by existing it influences conduct. Myths which are believed in tend to become true, because they set up a type, or "persona", which the average person will do his best to resemble.
Page 27 - Miller's lucid defence of a civic version of the doctrine of nationality (his preferred term to 'nationalism'). Miller starts by discussing the idea of national identity or the nation, and lists five distinguishing marks of a nation as a community: it is (1) constituted by shared belief and mutual commitment; (2) extended in history; (3) active in character; (4) connected to a particular territory; (5) marked off from other communities by its distinct public culture.
References to this book
Beyond the Welfare State?: The New Political Economy of Welfare Chris Pierson No preview available - 2006 |
Globalization / Anti-Globalization: Beyond the Great Divide David Held,Anthony McGrew Limited preview - 2007 |