IMAGINED COMMUNITIES: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism

Book Details

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Author: Benedict Anderson

• Language: English

• Edition: 2019

• ISBN: 9788131607503

• Pages: 256

• Cover: Paperback

About the Book

Imagined Communities by Benedict Anderson is a landmark study on the origins and spread of nationalism, widely regarded as one of the most influential works in political and cultural studies. Since its first publication in 1983, the book has sold over 250,000 copies worldwide, reshaping the understanding of how nations and national identities are formed.

Anderson introduces the concept of nations as “imagined communities”, exploring how people who will never meet feel connected through a shared sense of belonging. He traces the rise of nationalism to historical and social transformations, including:

• The territorialization of religious faiths and the decline of divine kingship

• The role of capitalism and print culture in unifying people across vast regions

• The development of secular state languages and new perceptions of time and space

The book shows how early nationalism in the Americas spread to Europe, Asia, and Africa, influencing both imperialist ambitions and anti-colonial movements. This revised edition features a new Afterword, reflecting on the book’s extraordinary global impact and its reception in various cultural contexts.

A classic in history, political science, sociology, and cultural studies, Imagined Communities is essential reading for anyone interested in nationalism, identity, and global political movements.