Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism

5 Responses to “Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism”

1. christianwriter says:

   July 28, 2010 at 10:07 pm

   Here is a review of the book that I wrote for my history-writing class.

   Benedict Anderson, a professor of International Studies at Cornell University, uses his knowledge and experience to construct Imagined Communities, a non-fictional work about the origins and outcomes of jingoism. The theme matter is regularly intricate but rather appealing to the uneducated mind.
   It is clear that Anderson’s intent was to educate and enlighten persons who are not familiar with the concept of jingoism or the very sub-themes connected with it (i.e. religion, jingoism), but, it appears that Anderson seems to be writing for the audience of college students with the purpose of using his book as text rather than making the book for the average person, since he is a man of academics.
   Origins and the outcomes of jingoism are the two main, distinct themes of Imagined Communities. Anderson clarifies that the United States is not the only one to be known for its nationalistic and patriotic scenery. Many people, not just in North America, but in Europe and Asia, have a profound sense of jingoism and like toward their country of origin. Motivated by religion, jingoism, or loyalty, people from around the world either rise up against the government or crush persons who oppose the status quo.
   Imagined Communities is a detailed sketch of the outcomes of extreme jingoism. Cases of people being imprisoned or wiped out due to imperialistic mindsets and goals are described in explicit detail. Anderson points out that America and Britain are not the only nations to practice the Manifest Destiny ideals. Countries like China, Japan, and Russia are not immune to persons ideals as they choose to push further and further into westward expansion.
   The theme matter of the book accurately defines its title, Imagined Communities. Each country imagines itself to be perfect in ideals, government, society, and religion and the country`s inhabitants strive to meet persons idealistic goals. Some countries have lived up to their imagined standards and some have not done so. The United States was successful in expanding westward and “converting” the Native Americans to Christianity. Russia was successful in its monarchial form of government until the revolution of 1905 after the massacre known as Bloody Sunday.
   Anderson’s sources appear outdated to persons reading this text today, since his sources have been dated as far back as the mid-19th century (the first edition of Anderson`s book was published in 1983). The oldest sources are the primary sources, consisting of letters and manuscripts written by the history-makers themselves. Nonetheless, the sources are valid in accordance with the people who wrote them and their viewpoints on the occurrences.
   The viewpoints used to construct this text include writers, poets, social reformers, religious leaders, and anyone from any walk of life imaginable. These viewpoints provide accurate and vital accounts of persons involved with or the victims of extreme jingoism and imperialism. Anderson’s literary experience and knowledge contributes momentously to this novel along with his copious sources. He gives each case a realistic touch and tries not to let his personal opinions interfere with the hardcore evidence used to prove each case.
   The shortcomings of Imagined Communities are few and far between but they must not go unmentioned. Although the intent of the text was to educate the unenlightened and uneducated reader about jingoism and its excellent and terrible points, it appears to take on the shape of a college textbook, educating persons who are studying the meadow of history, social sciences, or international studies. It is reasonably intricate and hard to know, even to the eye of a semi-educated college student. As mentioned earlier, Anderson seems to try to not let his biased opinion interfere with the past evidence, but it is certainly clear. He appears to be preaching his biased opinion on everything from religion to jingoism as a replacement for of sticking to the facts. The text’s might is that it drives the point home, the point that every country all over the planet we live on, strives to and imagines itself to be perfect and heavenly. The title itself is very appropriately fitting for the text.
   Anderson’s Imagined Communities is a mediocre work with excellent intentions. Sorry to say, persons excellent intentions fall fleeting of their standard of enlightening the reader about jingoism due to the fact that Anderson’s style reads like a textbook and it is very intricate, but, his point at the end of every chapter summarizes his thesis very briefly, which makes it simpler for the reader to know and comprehend Anderson’s literary writing style. The past worth of the text is astounding. Anderson’s sources provide fantastic insight into the minds of people from the past though his liberal bias appears to be preachy in nearly every chapter of his book. It’s a fantastic book, but it is more suited for the college student rather than the average, uneducated person.
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
2. Anonymous says:

   July 28, 2010 at 10:18 pm

   I reflect the writing style is pretentious, ostentatious, and rambling. Anderson seems to belittle people and communities who are willing to die for their beliefs- who is he to criticize? He takes paragraphs upon paragraphs to get to the point, and uses 15 large words when 1 or 2 simpler words would suffice. Anderson seems very full of himself, and looks down upon people who do not share his beliefs on jingoism. He cares small for his audience or persuading his audience, he simply cares about trying to look as literary and snobbish as he can. Some opinion were obvious, and he tries to dress them up by adding pages of useless information and showy vocabulary. Others make no sense, and he doesn’t clarify them clearly or adequately. I do not recommend this book to anyone.
   Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
3. Anonymous says:

   July 29, 2010 at 12:02 am

   I was fortunate enough to take a class taught by Ben Anderson (Professor Anderson) at Cornell. And I was introduced to this book in his class. This book really blew me away. Further, additional Professors at Cornell spoke very highly of him – I heard more than one professor talk of him – and who seemed truly in awe of his intellect. And how many additional professor of mine would utter words like, “Well, when I met U Nu…”
   Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
4. Anonymous says:

   July 29, 2010 at 2:03 am

   I read this book for a college course and I didn’t find anything extremely enlightening about it. His opinion were obvious and others were confusing. There seemed to be a lot of filler material between claims; I guess I don’t see the value of the book – it offered no insights into the root of jingoism.
   Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5
5. Vance says:

   July 29, 2010 at 3:27 am

   Though some appealing and provocative thoughts are open shedding some light on the thought of the rise of jingoism, this was largely a poorly written book that will not add an iota of understanding to what motivates human behavior.
   Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5