After Nationalism: Being American in an Age of Division

Nationalism is on the rise due to the failures of globalization, but Samuel Goldman argues that it lacks the necessary underpinnings of social cohesion. To secure the general welfare, we should move in the opposite direction: go small, embrace difference, and support political projects grounded in local communities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 04 June 2021
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

The surge of nationalism across the Western world is a response to the perceived failures of globalization that have dominated politics and economics since the end of the Cold War. In his book "After Nationalism," Samuel Goldman examines the trend with a sympathetic but skeptical eye, recognizing the significant challenges that lie ahead in reviving social cohesion at the national level. Goldman highlights three pillars of mid-twentieth-century nationalism that are absent today: the social dominance of Protestant Christianity, the absorption of European immigrants into a broader white identity, and the defense of democracy abroad. Many contemporary nationalists fail to acknowledge these essential underpinnings or the potential consequences they would entail.

To secure the general welfare in the new century, Goldman suggests a different approach: moving away from monolithic nationalism and towards a smaller, more diverse society. He advocates embracing difference as the defining characteristic of American society and supporting political projects that are grounded in local communities. This shift away from a centralized, top-down approach to nationalism can help to address the concerns of marginalized groups and promote a more inclusive and equitable society.

Goldman's book offers valuable insights into the current state of nationalism and the challenges facing any effort to revive social cohesion at the national level. By advocating for a move towards smaller, more diverse societies and supporting political projects that are grounded in local communities, Goldman suggests a path forward for a more prosperous and inclusive future.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 147 x 227 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812251647