Nationalism --- an issue at least as old as Marathon, or Masada --- now dominates world politics. Yet sociological explanations of it remain fragmentary, and till now there has been no comprehensive survey of such theories as do exist.

Dr. Smith's book, which is now revised in a new edition, is the first attempt to fill the gap. It examines critically five of the principal theories that have been advanced to explain the rise of nationalist movements both in Europe and the developing countries, and in the course of the analysis poses some of the central questions they leave unanswered. To illuminate these and other problems, the author creates a new typology of nationalist movements, and in the final section produces an original theory of what he terms "ethnic nationalism".

"A pioneering study... It is welcome to find a sociologist so well grounded in the solid facts of modern history and international relations." --- Times Literary Supplement

Anthony D. Smith is Lecturer in Sociology at the London School of Economics.