Imagined Communities

Synopsis

What are the imagined communities that compel men to kill or to die for an idea of a nation? This notion of nationhood had its origins in the founding of the Americas, but was then adopted and transformed by populist movements in nineteenth-century Europe. It became the rallying cry for anti-Imperialism as well as the abiding explanation for colonialism. In this scintillating, groundbreaking work of intellectual history Anderson explores how ideas are formed and reformulated at every level, from high politics to popular culture, and the way that they can make people do extraordinary things. In the twenty-first century, these debates on the nature of the nation state are even more urgent. As new nations rise, vying for influence, and old empires decline, we must understand who we are as a community in the face of history, and change.

About the Publisher

Verso

Verso Books is the largest independent, radical publishing house in the English-speaking world, publishing one hundred books a year.

Summary

Chapter 1: Imagined Communities

Anderson argues that nations are "imagined communities" because they are imagined by their members as a shared identity, despite most members never having met each other. He suggests that this imagined community is created and maintained through print capitalism, which allows for the mass dissemination of standardized languages and narratives.

Real Example: The rise of nationalism in 19th-century Europe, where print capitalism played a significant role in shaping shared identities and fostering a sense of national unity.

Chapter 2: Print Capitalism and the Imagined Community

Anderson explores how print capitalism enabled the creation and dissemination of standardized languages, which became the basis for national identities. He argues that the printing press allowed for the mass production and distribution of books, newspapers, and other printed materials, which helped to create a common language and culture among people who lived in geographically dispersed areas.

Real Example: The standardization of English in England during the 16th and 17th centuries, which was facilitated by the widespread printing and distribution of Bibles and other texts.

Chapter 3: Time and Capitalism

Anderson discusses the impact of capitalism on our perception of time. He argues that capitalism creates a linear and homogeneous sense of time, which is measured by clocks and calendars. This standardized timekeeping fosters a sense of community and synchronicity among people who live in different places and experience time differently.

Real Example: The adoption of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as the global standard in the late 19th century, which imposed a uniform timekeeping system on different parts of the world.

Chapter 4: The Language of Print Capitalism

Anderson analyzes the role of language in shaping imagined communities. He suggests that the printing press allowed for the widespread dissemination of printed materials in vernacular languages, which facilitated the development of national identities and cultures. This led to the standardization of national languages and the exclusion of minority languages and cultures.

Real Example: The rise of vernacular languages in Renaissance Europe, such as English, French, and German, which played a crucial role in the formation of national identities.

Chapter 5: Novels and National Identity

Anderson argues that novels played a significant role in the development of national identities and imagined communities. He suggests that novels create a sense of shared experience and empathy among readers, who identify with the characters and narratives in fictional worlds. This helps to foster a sense of national unity and belonging.

Real Example: The influence of novels by Jane Austen and Walter Scott in shaping British national identity and culture in the 19th century.

Chapter 6: The Census, the Map, the Museum

Anderson examines the role of institutions such as the census, the map, and the museum in shaping and maintaining imagined communities. He argues that these institutions create and disseminate official narratives and symbols that reinforce the sense of national identity and unity among citizens.

Real Example: The use of the census in the 19th and 20th centuries to collect and classify data on populations, which helped to create a sense of national belonging and shared purpose.