Therefore, the people remain aware that their personal opinions are national. This means that political and cultural factors contribute to nationalism as people ‘imagine’ that their cultural beliefs and attitudes are common. He instead proposes that nationalism is a process brought about by common culture and interests among people that in the end pulls them together as they strive for a common goal. This argument is correct because communities always identify themselves with culture and thus the nationalism must appreciate culture.Īnderson’s claim that a nation is imagined, does not mean that a nation is unreal or that nations exist somewhere in dreamland. He further claims to justify Marxism and liberalism as ‘universalistic ideologies, ill-at-ease with nationalism’ thus suggesting that the ideologies support nationalism but states that both these ideologies do not involve cultural aspects of nationalism.Īccording to Anderson “nationality… nation-ness, as well as nationalism, are cultura l artifacts of a particular kind” (1991, p.6). The communities that make up a nation are imaginary just like nationalism. Anderson portrays nationalism as still relevant even in the face of globalization and requires self-sacrifice especially in cases where inequality and exploitation are prevalent.Īlthough Anderson is correct in his proposition that nations are imagined and that nationalism requires sacrifice, he fails to give clear definition of a ‘community’ and how it is different from nationalism therefore, I do not agree with this argument.

Anderson argues that nationalism comes into being based on economical equity of the people and once established, it is difficult to take it away.Īnderson further argues that nationalism is the basic component of modernity and that loyalty to race or specific class is only secondary to nationalism.

He supports this argument by giving a historical account of the Soviet Union’s disintegration into smaller nations, which has rendered nation-states irrelevant (Anderson 1991, p.5).īy this, he suggests that Marxism only works when there is recognition of nationalism.

He further argues that revolutions have negative implications on nations and nationalism. He rejects the Marxist theories on nationalism based on the war between Cambodia, China, and Vietnam countries that uphold the Marxist ideologies. He emphasizes imagination plays an important part in creating a national identity. Anderson insists that the “end of the era of nationalism” is prevalent with the current globalization.

Benedict anderson definition of nation