To the extreme boundary of space

Most conflicts of the past centuries and many issues
the world community faces today stem from old claims
of nationalism and all it encompasses, exhibiting its
pulling power. But even though nationalism is the
ruling passion of our age, it is on its last legs ,
as Arjun Appadurai claims. The majority of
territorial states around the globe are not one
nation but carry only a thin veneer of shared
national identity which amounts to little more than
official discourse and covers up diversity within
this not-so-correctly perceived community.
Postnationalism as modern political and social
counter-ideology is centred on plurality, an open
take on belonging, and solidarity. After discussing
the nationalist creed and the conception of
postnationalism, this study locates an early example
of the latter in Joyce s novel 'Ulysses'. The
presented literary deconstruction of dominant
national discourses shows how the postnation is an
outcome not of modern globalisation but of the
failure of 19th and 20th century European
nation-ness. This work serves as introduction into
postnational theory as much as it presents a new
reading of the political concepts in Joyce s
acclaimed work of fiction.

Autorentext

studied at University of Passau and Trinity College Dublin. Sheholds a Diploma in International, Cultural, and Business Studiesfrom the University of Passau.

Klappentext

Most conflicts of the past centuries and many issuesthe world community faces today stem from old claimsof nationalism and all it encompasses, exhibiting itspulling power. But even though nationalism is theruling passion of our age, it "is on its last legs",as Arjun Appadurai claims. The majority ofterritorial states around the globe are not onenation but carry only a thin veneer of sharednational identity which amounts to little more thanofficial discourse and covers up diversity withinthis not-so-correctly perceived community.Postnationalism as modern political and socialcounter-ideology is centred on plurality, an opentake on belonging, and solidarity. After discussingthe nationalist creed and the conception ofpostnationalism, this study locates an early exampleof the latter in Joyce's novel 'Ulysses'. Thepresented literary deconstruction of dominantnational discourses shows how the postnation is anoutcome not of modern globalisation but of thefailure of 19th and 20th century Europeannation-ness. This work serves as introduction intopostnational theory as much as it presents a newreading of the political concepts in Joyce'sacclaimed work of fiction.