Ethnosymbolism and Nation Formation Since the Middle of the Twentieth Century: A Complementary Approach to Liah Greenfeld’s Theory

Abstract

This study examines how two influential theoretical approaches—Liah Greenfeld’s theory and Anthony Smith’s ethnosymbolism—explain the process of nation formation, arguing for their complementarity. It also seeks to demonstrate the value of the ethnosymbolist approach in explaining nation formation in recent history. Aligned with Greenfeld’s theoretical framework, this article adopts her definition of the nation and her narrative on nationalism’s historical emergence. After analyzing key similarities and differences between the two schools, the article develops a theoretical insight that identifies a critical point of convergence: a historically significant moment that is also empirically unprecedented in its impact on global perceptions and practices. In this context, the new global order that began consolidating in the mid-20th century—characterized by the ubiquity of the nation-state system—emerges as a structural element of unlimited reach. This shift reshaped not only how the global community is organized and interacts but also how nationalism evolved and the processes through which nations have formed. The final sections theorize the dynamics of nation formation within this new global order, proposing that the ethnosymbolist approach is particularly effective in identifying the catalysts of national consciousness and the mechanisms by which this awakening unfolds—without contravening the fundamental principles of Greenfeld’s theoretical framework.