Nationalism and Ethnosymbolism: History, Culture and Ethnicity in the Formation of Nations Edited by Athena S. Leoussi and Steven Grosby Ethnosymbolism offers a distinct and innovative approach to the study of nations and nationalism. It focuses on the role of ethnic myths, historical memories, symbols and traditions in the creation and maintenance of the collective identity and cohesion of modern nations. This book explores the different aspects of the ethnosymbolic approach to the study of ethnicity, nationality and nationalism. Nationalism and Ethnosymbolism first introduces the main theoretical considerations that have arisen nationalism studies in the past two decades. It then presents a collection of case studies covering music and poetry, different historical periods from antiquity to the present, and national communities in different parts of the world. Areas discussed include Eastern Europe and Russia, the Middle East, the Far East and India, Africa, and the Americas. Overall the book offers a defence of the methodology of ethnosymbolism and a demonstration of its explanatory power. Key Features: * Includes contributors from some of the most eminent scholars in the field of nationalism studies including Anthony D. Smith, the doyen of ethnosymbolism. * Offers a distinctive approach to the analysis of ethnicity and nationalism in the modern world. * Ethnosymbolism is now a key element of the nationalism studies discourse * The ethnosymbolic approach can be applied to the analysis of a variety of historical and contemporary social, cultural, and political situations Athena S. Leoussi Is a Lecturer in the School of Sociology, Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading, UK. She is the founder of the journal Nations and Nationalismand author and editor of many articles and books on nationalism and national art. Steven Grosby is Professor of Religion at Clemson University, USA. He is author of several books including Nationalism (2005)