ISBN : 9780198842545
The thesis of liberal nationalism is that national identities can serve as a source of unity in culturally diverse liberal societies, thereby lending support to democracy and social justice. The chapters in this book examine that thesis from both normative and empirical perspectives, in the latter case using survey data or psychological experiments from the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, and the UK. They explore how people understand what it means to belong to their nation, and show that different aspects of national attachment - national identity, national pride, and national chauvinism - have contrasting effects on support for redistribution and on attitudes towards immigrants. The psychological mechanisms that may explain why people's identity matters for their willingness to extend support to others are examined in depth. Equally important is how the potential recipients of such support are perceived. 'Ethnic' and 'civic' conceptions of national identity are often contrasted, but the empirical basis for such a distinction is shown to be weak. In their place, a cultural conception of national identity is explored, and defended against the charge that it is 'essentialist' and therefore exclusive of minorities. Particular attention is given to the role that religion can legitimately play within such identities. Finally the book examines the challenges involved in integrating immigrants, dual nationals, and other minorities into the national community. It shows that although these groups mostly share the liberal values of the majority, their full inclusion depends on whether they are seen as committed and trustworthy members of the national 'we'.
Gina Gustavsson and David Miller: Introduction
Part 1: The Nature of National Identity
1 David Miller: The Coherence of Liberal Nationalism
2 Leonie Huddy and Alessandro del Ponte: National Identity, Pride, and Chauvinism - their Origins and Consequences for Globalization Attitudes
Part 2: The Social Effects of National Identity
3 Gina Gustavsson: National Attachment - Cohesive, Divisive, or Both? A Reconsideration of the National Identity Argument through the Lens of Social Identity Theory
4 Nils Holtug: Does Nationhood Promote Egalitarian Justice? Challenging the National Identity Argument
5 Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, Frank Gonzalez and Alison O'Toole: Hierarchy, American Identity, and Support for Anti-Poverty Efforts
6 Matthew Wright and Morris Levy: 'Solidarity' versus Values as Drivers of Support for Immigrants' Access to Social Benefits
7 Samuel Pehrson: Argumentative Contexts of National Identity Definition: Getting Past the Failures of a Universal Ethnic-Civic Dichotomy
Part 3: The Place of Culture and Religion in Liberal Nationalism
8 Patti Tamara Lenard: Inclusive Identities: The Foundation of Trust in Multicultural Communities'
9 Cecile Laborde and Sune Laegaard: Liberal Nationalism and Symbolic Religious Establishment
10 Margaret Moore: Liberal Nationalism and the Challenge of Essentialism
Part 4: Immigrants and Dual Nationals: Double Loyalties and Divided Selves?
11 Keith Banting, Allison Harrel, Will Kymlicka, and Rebecca Wallace: Beyond National Identity: Liberal Nationalism, Shared Membership and Solidarity
12 Karen N. Breidahl: Dual or Divided Identities? National Identity and Community Values among Immigrants in Denmark and Western Europe
13 Lior Erez: Where the Heart Is: Liberal Nationalism, Social Trust, and Multiple National Belongings
14 Kwame Anthony Appiah: An Unscientific Postscript
