Question

Discuss the modernist theories about the emergence of nations and nationalism?
600words

Answer 1

The most common form of theories on nations and nationalism are based around modernity. Theorists of this ilk are referred to as using modernist or developmentalist approaches. The premise of the modernist theory is that nations have occurred as a natural result of modernity. There is not a specific date belonging to this theory as the key features often listed as the cause of modernity differ from nation to nation. One of the foremost thinkers of modernism and nationalism was Ernest Gellner. (Day, 2004, p. 41)

Gellner listed three main elements essential in the building of nations coming from modernity and, more specifically in his theory, industrialisation. Gellner believed that to make a nation, first a centralisation of power was required. (Gellner, 2008, pp. 85-86) In many cases as industrialisation came about people went from small villages and agrarian areas to bigger cities; thus having a need for more far reaching uniformity in governance and leadership.

This stage in nation building can be seen in the Unification of Italy. Where the provinces and states were once separate and had their own laws and customs, as each state became part of the growing Italian Kingdom so the power would be taken from the individual states, often forcibly removing authority from a foreign power, and made part of the larger collection of states that would one day become known first as a Kingdom and then as a nation.

The second element for Gellner’s theory of nation building was access to education or high culture. With industrial progress, he argued, came the opportunity to become better educated whether academically or culturally; and with this education nationalism grew. (Gellner, 2008, pp. 86-89) In Gellner’s eyes, education brought about unity and solidarity with those of similar cultural standing. (Day, 2004, p. 45) This element of Gellner’s theory is often one of contention and polemic, amongst historians, as education rarely emerges or sees any real growth at the time of industrialisation.

Finally, Gellner believed that a shared culture brought about by industrialisation unified a people and helped to form nationalism. Gellner meant this ‘shared culture’ as a form of understanding shared by a group of people; communal symbolism, expression and language. (Day, 2004, p.47)

This form of unification was used in the building of Italy as a nation. When describing the way some European nations came about Gellner states that Italy had the unifying element of language. Italian was considered a literary language with some semblance of systemisation which could bring unity to states with differing dialects. (Gellner, 2008, p. 95)

 

Other forms of modernist therories are those relating to modernity in relation to wars and other modern processes. Anthony Giddens agreed with Gellner’s basic theory that nations and nationalism were brought about by modernisation but he believes that, more specifically, politics and political control were the main contributors to the growth of nations. He argues that the political defence of borders and territories unifies administrations, thus bringing a unity from the leadership down throughout the population. (Day, 2004, pp. 54-57)

Michael Mann is another modernist that has a slightly different view to both Gellner and Giddens. Mann considers war to be a modern concept and the cause of nations and nationalism. He argues that the geographical conflict rather than the political polemics caused unity; making common identity and shared purpose a nationalistic quality. (Day, 2004, pp. 57-58)

Using these polemics all things that are considered modern or of modernity caused the making of nations. These can range from war and industrialisation to politics which dates nation building from the seventeenth century on. (Day, 2004, p. 57) In this context, although Italy shows several elements of modernisation forming the nation I believe the strongest was that of war both geographical and political. In the unifications of the states across Italy the nation was made; however, this does not necessarily mean that Italians had any form of nationalism at this time.

I can see how modernist’s perceive nations to have grown out of industrialisation. However, I don’t agree that this is the only thing that brings about nations and nationalism. Before industrial revolution came the invention of the printing press and around the same time travel became easier with the growth of maps and regulated transport systems. I believe that the regulating of transport and travel, and therefore, the easier dissemination of communications, played a major role in the growth of nationalism. Where previously all people knew was their village, the spread of communication started to make unification of villages, towns, cities and eventually whole nations possible.

Answer 2

Explanation:

So, I decided to join a walking tour called the ‘Modernist Architecture’ around the 16th arrondissement, organised by Context Travel, to learn something about it. During the tour, we saw some of the modernist buildings, learnt about the movement and have visited Foundation Le Corbusier and the modern architecture exhibition in the Palais de Chaillot. It was so interesting for me to see how the Modernist movement shaped the way we are living today.