Ernest Gellner
Ernest Gellner was a British-Czech philosopher and social anthropologist, widely considered one of the leading theorists in the field of nationalism and the sociology of knowledge. His most notable work, 'Nations and Nationalism' (1983), remains a key text in the understanding of the emergence of nationalism and its role in the modern world. Gellner's interdisciplinary approach incorporated elements from philosophy, sociology, and anthropology, making his contributions to social theory and the study of modernity significant and enduring.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Nations And Nationalism
This book presents a theoretical exploration of the concept of nationalism, the social conditions fostering it, and its role in the modern world. The author argues that nationalism is a product of industrial society, which necessitates a homogenous culture for communication and a centralized education system to sustain the industrial and economic structure. The work critically examines the origins and implications of nationalism, suggesting that it is not an ancient phenomenon but rather a relatively recent one that arises when a society transitions from agrarian to industrial. The author contends that nationalism serves to align the political and national unit, without necessarily corresponding to pre-existing ethnic or cultural identities, and is a political principle that holds that the political and the national unit should be congruent.
