Imagined Communities

Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism

By: Benedict Anderson

Narrated by: Kevin Foley

Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson's brilliant book on nationalism, forged a new field of study when it first appeared in 1983. Since then it has sold over a quarter of a million copies and is widely considered the most important book on the subject. In this greatly anticipated revised edition, Anderson updates and elaborates on the core question: What makes people live and die for nations, as well as hate and kill in their names?

Anderson examines the creation and global spread of the "imagined communities" of nationality, and explores the processes that created these communities: the territorialization of religious faiths, the decline of antique kingship, the interaction between capitalism and print, the development of secular languages-of-state, and changing conceptions of time and space. He shows how an originary nationalism born in the Americas was adopted by popular movements in Europe, by imperialist powers, and by the anti-imperialist resistances in Asia and Africa.

In a new afterword, Anderson examines the extraordinary influence of imagined communities. He also explores the book's international publication and reception, from its first publication toward the end of the Cold War era to the present day.

©1983 Benedict Anderson (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Sparkling, readable, densely packed." ( Guardian)

A classic.

This book should be required reading for any serious student of political history and the history of ideas.

Excellent. High fallutin vocabulary which was totally wonderful.

Need us to say this is an epic wonderful book which introduced, to me, an educated but in this arena a lay person concepts that I have not considered. Very enjoyable.

Very timely piece

Feels like it describes today’s world though it was written years ago. Hopefully it lays out a warning for those steering the boat now.

Heavy debatable theory

The theory is heavily abstract that pulls away from individual agency in history. It relies on national propaganda narratives to prove a point that is not necessarily true on the individual level. Although nationalism can be seen as a modern phenomenon, the boundaries which communities from tribal to empire has always been set. Racism is not modern either because human beings have always categorize "the other" and dehumanize those they felt threaten by. These all have origins which are not accounted for.

Well worth listening too

Without getting too deep into detail, IC gives a rather satisfying argument as to what nationalism is, how do we understand it, and where it came from. However, I was not satisfied with Anderson’s analysis on the relation but racism and nationalism. Other than that, this is an essential read for anyone interested in political or social history