Geography & Environment Publications
The Geopolitics of Identity: Popular Literature, Censorship, and the Spanish Media
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2002
Volume
2
Issue
2
Journal
Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research
First Page
177
Last Page
193
URL with Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S1532706XID0202_05
Abstract
National identity and manufactured unity have paved the way to the modern phenomenon of the nation-state, which emerged around the French Revolution in the late 18th century. The nation-state sought to unite the people by means of homogenization, creating a "common culture, symbols, values, reviving traditions and myths of origin, and sometimes inventing them" (Guibernau, 2000, p. 989). Ethnic division had no place or explanation in this product of the Enlightenment. Yet, despite the high minded aim of nation builders, ethnic and cultural differences did not disappear over-night. Indeed, they have been noted and written about by reporters and political observers alike. Their vision of these differences challenges the status quo in many ways, and most likely has altered the manner in which national unity is perceived in-side and outside national borders.