Nationalism as classification: suggestions for reformulating nationalism research

Abstract

Instead of thinking about “national identity,” scholars of nationalism would do well to study nationalism as a process of classification, treating national conflict as disputes over nationalized categories. Disputes over national classification take various forms: patriots argue over which category applies, which categories exist, and which categories have which status. Techniques for imposing classificatory categories also deserve attention. The contributors to this themed issue of Nationalities Papers illustrate the power of analysis based on classification.

Keywords:

• National identity
• classification
• nationalism theory

Notes

1. Search for title: “National Identity” with restricted publication dates at Google Books Advanced Search, URL: < https://books.google.com/advanced_book_search>, accessed 25 February 2017.