Nationalism and discrimination in the nation - Some valid questions

How do anthropologists approach the study of the nation.

2. What is a nation?

3. Why are there nations?

4. How do people identify themselves in a nation?

5. How is ethnic identity expresses in a nation?

1. How do anthropologists approach this subject?

· Nation is a social and cultural unit

· Nation is a human construction

· Within it there are values and practices which are prompted and upheld

· Nations are also political entities part of a global society.

What is a nation and what is nationalism?

· National borders not conterminous with ethnic borders.

· Benedict Anderson, 1983, called nations ‘imagined communities’ invented by conquerors and colonials officers.

· Nationalism: ethnic ideologies which hold that a group should dominate the state.(Eriksen 2002:98)

· Ethnic nationalism (driven by ethnic politics and a particular ethnic group),

· Civic nationalism (driven by civic/democratic rules and groupings)

How do nations come about?

· Role of missionaries – emphasized difference in and seperateness of indigenous

· Colonial policies – offices set up traditional authorities “institutionalized the articulation of customary tribal forms” – customary law and justice.

· Local intelligentsia – promote idea of cohesive nation.

· Migration - issues of social anomie, loss of belonging, loss of tradition and need to reaffirm this – i.e in mine compunds of JHB.

· Symbols of ethnicity – monuments, roads

How do people identify themselves in a nation?

· National unification has led to an increase in ethnic conflict.

· National borders also lumped people of diverse social origins together, placing minorities at risk. People in nation identify themselves as:

o Indigenous populations

o Prot-nation states

o Immigrants

o Citizens