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THE AGE OF NATIONALISM by Hans Kohn

THE AGE OF NATIONALISM

By

Publisher: Harper

The political awakening of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East and rising nationalism are subjects about which much has been written. Often too much emphasis has been placed on the challenge this march for independence presents to American foreign policy. In this book Hans Kohn, the noted historian, goes a long way in demonstrating what is the real impact of rising nationalism on the twentieth century. He concludes that, while the accession of many peoples to nationhood has created difficult problems, this global awakening of peoples to their rights for equality and well being has opened the first era of global history. Assuming, as we must, that the survival of mankind is only possible on a pluralistic and diverse basis, modern nationalism provides a safeguard against the establishment of one power; this new nationalism, resting upon free association and growing emancipation, has brought about in the 1960's a transition from bipolarization into two power blocs to a more pluralistic and hopeful situation. The author deals with the events of the twentieth century in the light of preceding history; he differentiates between the various forms nationalization took in Europe, and shows the impact Western civilization had on the peoples of the globe. He reminds us that it is in the interest of the West at this movement for human emancipation be recognized as a fulfillment of Western and not of Communist aspirations, and is particularly critical of France's colonial policy. Mr. Kohn has taken on a massive subject and succeeded in distilling his ideas into crisp paragraphs which are of admirable clarity to the reader. The work contains enough interpretative ideas to keep the most serious students in dispute. Recommended to both the student and general reader.