Academic : Political Science : Political theory. The state. Theories of the state : Nationalism. Nation state

The “imagined community” of the nation,which served as the affective basis for the post-French Revolution social contract, as well as its institutional counter-part, the welfare state, are currently under great stress as states lose control over what once was referred to as the “national economy” In this book a number of authors – historians, legal scholars, political theorists – consider the fate of national democracy in the age of globalization. In particular, the authors ask whether the order of European nation-states, with its emphasis on substantive democracy, is now, in the guise of the European Union, giving way to a more loosely constructed, often federalized system of procedural republics (partly constructed in the image of the United States). Is national parliamentary democracy being replaced by a politico-legal culture, where citizen action increasingly takes place in a transnational legal domain at the expense of traditional (and national) party politics? Is the notion of a nationally-bound citizen in the process of being superceded by a cosmopolitan legal subject? more...

Price: $105.00

Once a sleeping giant, China today is the world's fastest growing economy--the leading manufacturer of cell phones, laptop computers, and digital cameras--a dramatic turn-around that alarms many Westerners. But in China: The Fragile Superpower, Susan L. Shirk opens up the black box of Chinese politics and finds that the real danger lies elsewhere--not in China's astonishing growth, but in the deep insecurity of its leaders. China's leaders face a troubling paradox: the more developed and prosperous the country becomes, the more insecure and threatened they feel. Shirk, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for China, knows many of today's Chinese rulers personally and has studied them for three decades. She offers invaluable insight into how they think--and what they fear. In this revealing book, readers see the world through the eyes of men like President Hu Jintao and former President Jiang Zemin. We discover a fragile communist regime desperate to survive in a society turned upside down by miraculous economic growth and a stunning new openness to the greater world. Indeed, ever since the 1989 pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and the fall of communism in the Soviet Union, Chinese leaders have been haunted by the fear that their days in power are numbered. Theirs is a regime afraid of its own citizens, and this fear motivates many of their decisions when dealing with the U.S. and other foreign nations. In particular, the fervent nationalism of the Chinese people, combined with their passionate resentment of Japan and attachment to Taiwan, have made relations with these two regions a minefield. It is here, Shirk concludes, in the tangled interactions between Japan, Taiwan, China, and the United States, that the greatest danger lies. Shirk argues that rising powers such as China tend to provoke wars in large part because other countries mishandle them. Unless we understand China's brittle internal politics and the fear more...

Price: $12.95

From a cross-disciplinary and conceptual perspective this book discusses the political solutions of constitutional patriotism, republicanism and liberal nationalism to cultural conflict. It places these debates in the context of real national traditions, where all civic language inevitably also reflects 'culture'. more...

Price: $85.00

This key volume examines the political, social and legal processes of the practice of secession, carefully illustrated by eight case studies. It systematizes our present knowledge of secession in an accessible way to readers not familiar with the phenomenon and its consequences. more...

Price: $99.95

Encountering Nationalism introduces students to concepts of nationalism in an accessible, critical, and timely way. Abstract arguments are bolstered by clear and specific examples drawn from momentous events and from the well of everyday life, such as the aftermath of September 11, beauty pageants, ethnic conflicts, and sexual respectability. Encountering Nationalism is an engaging introduction to the diverse meanings of nationalism and its most important aspects.:.; Addresses the rise of nationalism in the US post-September 11.; Brings together “culturalist” and state-centered approaches to nationalism.; Underscores the importance of race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and religion to understanding nationalism.; Clarifies key concepts such as nationalism, nation, state, gender, sexuality, etc.; Contains useful examples to illustrate key aspects of nationalism.; Features clear and engaging prose. more...

Price: $100.95