National Identity Case Studies
Approved elements of nationalism are disseminated by the state apparatus through education, media, and the law. How certain subjects such as history, geography, literature, and art history are explained reinforce a particular idea of national identity, while marginalizing or even neglecting other elements of that same place's culture. States reinforce the idea of "community" through creating symbols such as flags and anthems, which reflect a particular narrative about national history, culture, and tradition. A change of narrative will be revealed symbolically. Explore the significance of symbols in Case Study: Icons of Identity.
Landscapes are also used to give a sense of belonging to the nation, as places and spaces of significance are ascribed with special meanings. The landscape of the nation is built through monuments and memorials, place names, and paintings on and of the landscape that legitimate (a particular view of) the nation's past (Till 2004). Certain landscapes may earn special significance, becoming the "heartland" of the nation. Territorial ownership, loyalty, and willingness to defend these landscapes become part of the national narrative. Examine more fully the links between landscape and identity in Case Study: Landscape and National Identity.
Building a national identity requires defining who is included and who is excluded from visions of the nation. Since the demographic compositions of states are constantly changing, traditional national narratives may not represent the social groups living within the nation-state at a given point in time. Groups that are marginalized politically and/or economically may feel excluded from the national narrative. Places may become tangible sites of conflict as groups with competing visions of national identity perform their own narratives. Look at the challenges of sharing and defining public space by groups with different national narratives in Case Study: Contested Public Spaces.
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Date last modified: October 8, 2009.
NSF Project (AAG,Texas State, Northern Colorado)