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National symbols

National symbols. Unity and Division. SEU2310. Kolst ø. National identity is learnt, especially thru audio-visual aids National symbols are interactive aids (participatory) National symbols reify AND essentialize nations Example of the Pledge of Allegiance

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National symbols

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  1. National symbols Unity and Division SEU2310

  2. Kolstø • National identity is learnt, especially thru audio-visual aids • National symbols are interactive aids (participatory) • National symbols reify AND essentialize nations • Example of the Pledge of Allegiance • National symbols are not always unifying symbols • Difference between symbols in newly established states and old states

  3. Kolstø (con’t) • Anthony D. Smith: symbols rooted in a cultural past vs. newly invented symbols • Michael Billig: flag waved vs. flag unwaved • In new nations, national symbols can function as a battlefield for political conflicts • New states are weaker institutionally/economically • National symbols in new states have to fulfill a much more difficult task → they need to create national identity and allegiance

  4. Bosnia and Hercegovina

  5. Russia

  6. Norway

  7. Kolstø (con’t) • Symbols can be filled with a variety of content/that content may change • You can’t simply find examples of national symbol use, you need to find what they mean in the contemporary context • If symbols are used in connection with moments of pride, joy, etc; good feeling may rub off on these national symbols (esp, in the case of sports)

  8. Banal nationalism Chapters 3 & 5

  9. Remembering and Forgetting • National identity remembered b/c it is embedded in routines of daily life that constantly “flag” nationhood • Numerous, familiar and operate mindlessly • Double forgetting • Forgetting as an active process • Ideological pattern: “our” nationalism is forgotten, while the “irrationality” of nationalism projected onto others

  10. Flags • Signaling vs. Symbolic function • Essential info/symbolic content • Most national flags do the latter • Waved vs. Unwaved flags (banal reminders) • Magazine cover/national products • Noticed vs. Unnoticed flags • In established nation-states (w/o internal challenge), flags often backgrounded • Mindful ↔ Mindless

  11. Hot vs. Banal nationalism • Hot: creates or threatens nation-states • Exceptional, emotionally charged • Banal: maintains naturalness of nation-state • Everyday, passive • National days set aside to wave flags • What about all the days in between? • People don’t cease being national citizens and the nation-state doesn’t disappear

  12. Ours vs. Theirs • The nation-state celebrates itself daily • Sacred becomes part of everyday life • Even saluted flags seem routine • “Our” nationalism presented as Patriotism • “Fanatical” patriotism? • Pride, loyalty • Doing the political business of patriotism

  13. Banal Words • National assumptions in “the people”, “the country”, “society”, “we”, “our”, “this”, “here” • Politicians argue about who “we” are, not that there is a “we” • They evoke the whole nation as their audience • Political discourse grounded in national context • Not just the political right, also the left • Politicians represent the nation (in two ways) • Politicians personify the nation • “Still”, “again”/protecting and re-claiming

  14. Media • National newspapers • Same newspapers across the country • Presented as if it were for a universal audience • Naming the country as a natural, bounded unit • Naming things in national terms • Perceiving readers/listeners to be national • Weather maps • “Here”, the country

  15. Sports • Overt flag waving • Commonplace stereotypes of nation, place and masculinity • Identification with national athletes • Our victories/our heroes • Parallels between sport and war • Shooting, battling, attacking • National politicians attend games and support national teams

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