A Critical Theory of Ethno-Nationalist Ideology in the Developed West

This book attempts to address the recent development
of ethno nationalism in Western Europe and North
America. It engages with Kleinian psychoanalytical
concepts, balancing these with a broader
socio-economic emphasis, to argue that a certain type
of nationalism is becoming more prevalent. The book
seeks to suggest, through an interpretation of
political culture, that contemporary ethno
nationalism is linked to the decline of a sense of
the self. Contemporary service based economies tend
to favour a lack of personal reality or connectedness
to social traditions. Individuals gain emotional
solace for this lack of selfhood in an insecure
phantasy of total omnipotence
and self creation. They deposit the all powerful
part of themselves into an invincible racial body,
and hence a more radical, atomised nationalism may
become more rather than less prominent in the
contemporary world.

Autorentext

Ken Averill studied Politics and History at Durham University. He studied for a PhD at the University of Sheffield and currentlyteaches Politics and History in North West England.

Klappentext

This book attempts to address the recent developmentof ethno nationalism in Western Europe and NorthAmerica. It engages with Kleinian psychoanalyticalconcepts, balancing these with a broadersocio-economic emphasis, to argue that a certain typeof nationalism is becoming more prevalent. The bookseeks to suggest, through an interpretation ofpolitical culture, that contemporary ethnonationalism is linked to the decline of a sense ofthe self. Contemporary service based economies tendto favour a lack of personal reality or connectednessto social traditions. Individuals gain emotionalsolace for this lack of selfhood in an insecurephantasy of total omnipotenceand self creation. They deposit the all powerfulpart of themselves into an invincible racial body,and hence a more radical, atomised nationalism maybecome more rather than less prominent in thecontemporary world.