The article briefly scrutinises dominant theories of the nationalism and contemporary theoretical discussions, which challenge the traditional view of 'nation' as the category of analysis. Such theoretical challenges transcend the key questions of nationalism studies 'What is the nation?', 'When did it come to existence?' by approaching the 'nations' not as the real groups but rather as the categories of a social practice, which are constructed and reproduced by the various discursive formations - the systems of representation. Historiographical concepts of the ethnogenesis and 'migrations of nations' are used as the examples of the intellectual reification of 'nation' as real, historical group. 'Nation' is thus considered as the powerful and pervasive category of practice yet rather weak and limited category of the analysis.
This essay offers a reflection on and a summary of the authoress's book on nationalism. The book is a critical assessment of well-established theories, or rather approaches to nationalism and argues that these are inadequate in addressing nationalism in contemporary settings. The premise is that studies of nationalism are too preoccupied with questions about the modernity versus ancientness of the nation, the construction of identity, its authenticity and the character of nationalism itself. The authoress argues that many of these questions, whilst relevant to our understanding of the history and politics of nationalism in the past nevertheless fall short in explaining its role, politics and actions today when the states and nations are facing very different challenges. The new challenges reflect the increased relevance of politics beyond the state, trans-national ethnic networks, violence and general internationalisation of ethnic relations. The latter, in particular is the subject of this essay.
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