Symbols of defeat in the construction of national identity / / Steven Mock

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910815901703321
• Autore: Mock Steven J. <1972->
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2012
• ISBN: 1-107-22947-2; 1-139-19980-3; 1-280-48460-8; 9786613579584; 1-139-20571-4; 1-139-20352-5; 1-139-20650-8; 1-139-20211-1; 1-139-20492-0; 1-139-00402-6
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (viii, 297 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)
• Classificazione: POL000000
• Disciplina: 320.54
• Soggetti: Nationalism - History; National characteristics - Memory; Crises - Psychological aspects - History; Memory - Social aspects - History; Collective memory - History; Political messianism - History
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Theories of nations and nationalism -- Totem sacrifice and national identity -- Symbols of defeat in national monument and ritual -- The defeat narrative in national myth and symbol -- Implications to politics and diplomacy -- Exceptions.
• Sommario/riassunto: If nationalism is the assertion of legitimacy for a nation and its effectiveness as a political entity, why do many nations emphasize images of their own defeat in understanding their history? Using Israel, ; Serbia, France, Greece and Ghana as examples, the author argues that this phenomenon exposes the ambivalence that lurks behind the passions nationalism evokes. Symbols of defeat glorify a nation's ancient past, while reenacting the destruction of that past as a necessary step in constructing a functioning modern society. As a result, these symbols often assume a foundational role in national mythology. Threats to such symbols are perceived as threats to the nation itself and consequently are met with desperation difficult for outsiders to understand.