Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives on Nati - New Directions in Cross-Cultural and Post-Communist Studies

This volume brings together 15 articles divided into four sections on the role of nationalism in transitions to democracy, the application of theory to country case studies, and the role played by history and myths in the forging of national identities and nationalisms. The book develops new theories and frameworks through engaging with leading scholars of nationalism: Hans Kohn's propositions are discussed in relation to the applicability of the term 'civic' (with no ethno-cultural connotations) to liberal democracies, Rogers Brubaker over the usefulness of dividing European states into 'civic' and 'nationalizing' states when the former have historically been 'nationalizers', Will Kymlicka on the applicability of multiculturalism to post-communist states, and Paul Robert Magocsi on the lack of data to support claims of revivals by national minorities in Ukraine. The book also engages with 'transitology' over the usefulness of comparative studies of transitions in regions that underwent only political reforms, and those that had 'quadruple transitions', implying simultaneous democratic and market reforms, as well as state and nation building. A comparative study of Serbian and Russian diasporas focuses on why ethnic Serbs and Russians living outside Serbia and Russia reacted differently to the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the USSR. The book dissects the writing of Russian and Soviet history that continues to utilize imperial frameworks of history, analyzes the re-writing of Ukrainian history within post-colonial theories, and discusses the forging of Ukraine's identity within theories of 'Others' as central to the shaping of identities. The collection of articles proposes a new framework for the study of Ukrainian nationalism as a broader research phenomenon by placing nationalism in Ukraine within a theoretical and comparative perspective.

Acest volum reuneste 15 articole impartite in patru sectiuni despre rolul nationalismului in tranzitiile catre democratie, aplicarea teoriei la studiile de caz de tara si rolul jucat de istorie si mituri in forjarea identitatilor si nationalismelor nationale. Cartea dezvolta noi teorii si cadre prin implicarea cu cercetatori de frunte ai nationalismului: propunerile lui Hans Kohn sunt discutate in legatura cu aplicabilitatea termenului „civic” (fara conotatii etno-culturale) la democratiile liberale, Rogers Brubaker asupra utilitatii divizarii Statele europene in state „civice” si „nationalizante” cand primele au fost „nationalizatori” din punct de vedere istoric, Will Kymlicka cu privire la aplicabilitatea multiculturalismului la statele post-comuniste si Paul Robert Magocsi cu privire la lipsa datelor care sa sustina revendicarile revigorarii minoritatile din Ucraina.