Nationalism and Beyond

Introducing Moral Debate about Values
Erscheinungsjahr 2001
ISBN: 978-963-9241-11-4
Verlag: Amsterdam University Press

Buch, Englisch, 270 Seiten, Format (B × H): 162 mm x 236 mm, Gewicht: 635 g

A very readable introduction to the concepts and principles shaping the philosophical debate around nationalism. The book provides portraits of two kinds of nationalists: the tougher type, more common in everyday life, and the ultra-moderate "liberal nationalist" encountered in academia. The author introduces a debate with a "thoughtful nationalist," one who defends the view that states should be organized around national culture and that individuals have basic obligations to their nation. The author attempts to answer his opponent's standard arguments and presents a fully documented critique of his views.

A passion born from Miscevic's encounter with nationalism in the former Yugoslavia glows from every line of the argument. Questions raised and discussed include: Why is radicalism typical of nationalism? How successful is the nation-state? Does nationalism support liberal-democratic values? Is membership in a nation necessary for human fulfillment and for understanding values? Why might nationalism be immoral?

The book is unique not only because it explains a contemporary moral debate, in terms clear to the non-philosopher reader, but also because it has been written from the perspective of Central and Eastern Europe based on the author's personal experience.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Miscevic, Nenad

Mišcevic, Nenad

Inhaltsverzeichnis

PREFACE




PART ONE: NATIONALISM AS A POLITICAL PROGRAM




CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
What the debate is about
The concept of “nation”

CHAPTER TWO: PORTRAYING NATIONALISM
A rough sketch
Finessing the portrait: two kinds of nationalists

CHAPTER THREE. THE INVIDIOUS NATIONALIST
Why is radicalism typical for nationalism?

CHAPTER FOUR: THE EVEN-HANDED NATIONALIST: SUMMARIZING THE ARGUMENTS
Introducing our interlocutor
How to defend nationalist claims?

CHAPTER FIVE: THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
Introduction
Secession at will
The costs of secession

CHAPTER SIX: THE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE
Preventing and redressing the injustices
The limitations of self-defense

CHAPTER SEVEN: HOW SUCCESSFUL IS THE NATION-STATE?
A historical success-story
Promises, promises

CHAPTER EIGHT: DOES NATIONALISM SUPPORT LIBERAL-DEMOCRATIC VALUES?
A source of democratic energy
Equality, democracy and freedom

CHAPTER NINE: POLITICAL ALTERNTIVES TO NATIONALISM




PART TWO: IDENTITY, CULTURE AND TRADITION




CHAPTER TEN: NATION AND CULTURE

CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE GENERAL VALUE OF CULTURE
The idea of cultural traditions
Replying to the nationalist
What is so special about ethno-national traits?
Why the nationalist should not appeal to cultural proximity?

CHAPTER TWELVE: IS MEMBERSHIP IN A NATION NECESSARY FOR HUMAN FLOURISHING AND FOR UNDERSTANDING OF VALUES?
What the nation has to offer
A pluralist view of traditions
Tradition and convention
How to understand a tradition from outside

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: NATIONAL TRADITION AS THE SCHOOL OF MORALS
Thick and thin morality
Are there national moralities?
Is the purity of tradition a virtue?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: IS NATIONAL IDENTITY ESSENTIAL FOR THE IDENTITY OF PERSONS
“Stable nation produces stable individuals”
Toward a pluralism of identities
A misplaced analogy
How good is nation at providing identities?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: ANTI-COSMOPOLITAN ARGUMENT

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: RECAPITULATION: NATIONALISM AGAINST CULTURE

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE ULTRA-MODERATE “NATIONALISM”




PART THREE: CONCLUSION




CHAPTER NINETEEN: WHY NATIONALISM MIGHT BE IMMORAL?

CHAPTER TWENTY: PLURALISTIC COSMOPOLITANISM




The Beginner's Guide to the Literature

Bibliography

Index

BO

Über Autor(innen)

Mišcevic, Nenad
Nenad Mišcevic is Director of the Doctoral Support Program in Nationalism Studies at the Central European University, is a member of the Steering Committee of the European Society for Analytic Philosophy, of which he was president until 1999. He has lectured as invited professor at various universities including CREA in Paris, the Institute for International Studies in Geneva, the Institute of Federalism in Fribourg, as well as at the universities of Memphis, Graz (Austria) and Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic).