National history has once again become a battlefield. In internal political conflicts, which are fought in the fields of popular culture, museums, schoolbooks, and memorial politics, it has obtained an important and contested role. Irrespective of national specifics, the narratives of new nationalism are similar everywhere: National history is said to stretch back for many centuries and expresses historical continuity namely in the timeless character of a homogenous people. It struggles for independence and is headed by towering leaders and inspired by the sacrifice of martyrs. Unlike earlier forms of nationalism, the main enemies are no longer neighboring states, but international and supranational institutions. To profit from national history as an integrative tool, new nationalists claim that the media and the history curricula in schools should not contest or question the nation and its great historical deeds, since doubts are believed to weaken and dishonour the nation. This book gives a broad international overview of the rhetoric, contents and contexts of the rise of renewed national historical narratives and the way professional historians react to these phenomena. The contributions focus on a wide range of representative nations from all over the globe.

Book Information
ISBN 9780367520403
Author Niels F. May
Format Hardback
Page Count 250
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 152g