NATIONALISM

Nationalism is a two-sided story, and both aspects need to be understood, says this comprehensive study.

It was not too long ago that academics and political commentators were talking about economic globalization and borderless connectivity. Now, says historian Storm, that sort of optimism seems quaint. Instead, there has been an increase in nationalism, with populist leaders promising to reassert national identity and cultural values. His aim in this book is to trace the forms of the new nationalism and assess its impact on populations. Nationalism can bind disparate groups together, but it often fosters coherence of the majority by depicting ethnic minorities as disloyal, dangerous enemies. Cultural nationalism, once embedded in the psyche, is enduring: for example, the collapse of the Soviet Union immediately saw the re-emergence of Russian ethnic nationalism. The Brexit campaign was explicitly cast in terms of reclaiming control and sovereignty. Storm examines how nationalism pervades modern culture through sport, entertainment, art, and even cooking. Sometimes the framework he sets up seems to be confusingly wide, and he comes close to defining all culture as nationalistic. He worries that the current trend of majority-rule nationalism has more negatives than positives and wonders if regional and multinational organizations could ameliorate the downside. He also suggests that global issues such as climate change, which will require cooperative action, might provide a balancing factor. Storm presents many interesting ideas, but the book is dauntingly complex; sometimes the narrative bogs down under the weight of references and footnotes.

A detailed examination of the origin, use, and future of nationalist ideologies.