... the modern era, but points to social changes such as print capitalism and the increase in literacy to explain the rise and maintenance of nationalism. Finally, I will concentrate on Smith's "ethno-symbolist" theory which places nationalism in the more historical setting of ethnic communities. He concentrates on the psychological effects that continued, created and transforming symbols and rituals of ... "small elite groupings known as "nations" in antiquity and the middle ages." He also acknowledges the modern nation as a "legal political" community as well as a "historical culture-commun...

• Word Count: 3295
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: Graduate

... modernist and post modernist though the lines of distinction between these categories are at times somewhat unclear with all three theories overlapping. A pre modernist approach given by Anthony D. Smith argues that nationalism is "an ideological movement for the attainment and maintenance of autonomy unity and identity of human populations, some of whose members constitute an actual or potential nation ... ". While the nation is "a named human population sharing a historic territory common, mass public culture and a single common currency". Smith emphasises in particular that pre existi...

• Word Count: 1934
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Graduate

... PERRENNIALISM One of the original theories on the emergence of nationalism is perrennialism, which concentrates heavily on the history of nations, which are seen as stretching back for centuries. A.D. Smith states that the perrenialist perspective "regarded national sentiments and consciousness as fundamental elements of historical phenomena". Historians would recall such events as the activities of past leaders in antiquity and ... are modern conditions available to all, no longer only available to the elite. Such modern factors would increase political participation, and in turn help d...

• Word Count: 594
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate