Official nationalism is an anticipatory strategy by threatened dominant groups
Evidence
Here is a fine example of the character of official nationalism – an anticipatory strategy adopted by dominant groups which are threatened with marginalization or exclusion from an emerging nationally-imagined community. — Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities, 385
Categorization
- DEFINE: Anderson’s sharpest one-line definition of ‘official nationalism’ as a preemptive, defensive move by ruling groups.
- XREF: connects to: Removing a named external threat intensifies rather than softens dominant-group nationalism. — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized:…, 1391; Political groups adopt nationalist rhetoric opportunistically — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 159; War serves nationalist ends even when unwinnable — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 269 (+3 more)
Related
- Official nationalism serves threatened ruling classes, not great powers alone (similarity 0.84)
- Official nationalism is a reactive response to earlier popular national movements (similarity 0.79)
- Removing a named external threat intensifies rather than softens dominant-group nationalism. (similarity 0.78)