Nested Identities: Nationalism, Territory, and Scale

This groundbreaking work explores the vital importance of territory and space to any genuine understanding of nationalism and identity. Too often, the contributors argue, national identity is analyzed apart from the lands that are integral to its formation, as territory is seen as a commodity to be brokered rather than as central to a group's self-definition. This volume combines theoretical insights with structured case studies on how national identity manifests itself in space and at different geographical scales.

About the Author :
Guntram H. Herb is professor of geography at Middlebury College. David H. Kaplan is professor of geography at Kent State University.

Review :
All of these case studies are fascinating and each points to the difficulty that scholars often have in understanding the variety and intricacies of nationalism that exists. These case studies will both unsettle and reassure readers. There is plenty here for pondering and debating. This work is highly recommended and the editors are to be commended for their efforts to add new dimensions to our understanding of this complex topic.-- "International Social Science Journal" Identity is powerfully present in Herb and Kaplan's book.--Anssi Paasi, University of Oulu, Finland Interesting and informative. It deserves a place on the shelf of those interested in ethnicity and nationalism of any discipline.-- "Canadian Review of Studies in Nationalism" It is refreshing to see that the major poststructuralist works in IR and political geography now appear in most of the bibliographies. . . . Adds important pieces to the puzzle which makes up global politics.--Michael Nieman, Trinity College, Hartford, CT "Millennium: Journal of International Studies" Many of the essays will provide easily accessible student readings. Herb and Kaplan have brought together an interesting set of essays, which contribute to the development of a geography of national identity.-- "Annals of the Association of American Geographers" This is an interesting set of studies and makes the case convincingly for the importance of the territorial perspective.-- "Canadian Journal of Political Science" Despite the considerable breadth of 'scales' and the diversity of cases, the essays add up to a coherent and insightful volume. Nested Identities makes an important contribution to a complex topic, and succeeds in bridging diverse disciplinary perspectives (primarily sociological, legal, and international political) on identity and territoriality.--Tim Dunne, University of Wales "International Affairs" The geographic discipline can finally lay claim to a contemporary book of case studies dealing with nationalism and dilemmas of identity. Herb and Kaplan have put together a superb political geography book that will make for an ideal read in seminar courses for years to come. Nested Identities may finally elevate geography to equal footing with political science in the study of nationalism.-- "Professional Geographer"