BLOOD AND BELONGING Essay Research Paper This

BLOOD AND BELONGING Essay, Research Paper

This is a critique of the book, Blood and Belonging, by Michael

Ignatieff. This paper will explain the subject of the book and its

relevance, discuss Michael Ignatieff’s methods and conclusions on the

subject and finally include a personal critique of the book by the

author of this paper.

The author of the book travels on what he terms "the six

journeys." On these "journeys" he encounters different cultures, as he

travels to six different coinciding areas of the world. He examines

the unique expression of nationalism that each populace displays by

interviewing various members of that particular society. The six areas

that he travels to are specifically chosen for the clarity which

nationalism is expressed in society. Nationalism is a factor

contributing toward both present possible future instability in these

areas.

These areas are former Yugoslavia (specifically Croatia and

Serbia), Germany, Ukraine, Quebec, Kurdistan and Northern Ireland.

According to Ignatieff, in Croatia and Serbia there is a desire for a

separate identity between the two nations. The fear of losing one’s

national identity has caused ethnic hatred. A terror so strong and

historically persistent, it has driven people to a desperate state to

do anything. This is a large contributor to the reasons for the extreme

violence present there today. The author states, "A Croat, thus, is

someone who is not a Serb. A Serb is someone who is not a Croat."

This quotation profoundly expresses the short-sighted mentality present

in their conflict.

In his travels in Germany, the author points out an important

question. Does the nation make the state, or the state the nation.

This question by far does not stop here, especially when Germany is the

subject. The essence of the German people is seen by some as aggressive

and offensive, thus the existence of the German problem. If the nation

makes the state then Germany will always be a threat. If the state

makes the nation, then the aggressive nature of the German nation, which

lead the world into two global wars, can be harnessed and redirected.

The question has its roots and answers in the recent reunification of

Germany.

The Ukraine is concerned with not being Russian. It is here

Ignatieff receives a complete vision of what nationalism is. He states,

"I understand what nationalism really is: the dream that a whole nation

could be like a congregation; singing the same hymns, listening to the

same gospel, sharing the same emotions, linked not only to each other

but to the dead buried beneath their feet."

Quebec is a model that presents a possible future of the state

system. Ignatieff uses the example of Quebec to illustrate the

relationship between nationalism and federalism. He implies that "if

federalism fails in Canada it can fail anywhere." If the balance

between "ethnic and civil principles" is not maintained in Canada, who

is not an impoverished country and has a large, successful economy; then

perhaps the modern world has not transcended the grasps of nationalism.

The Kurds represent a nation without a state, who find

themselves surrounded by other nations who are more aggressive

nationalists. The term Kurdistan is a definition of the areas used by

Ignatieff to explain the area of major Kurdish populace concentration.

There is no real borders, no flag, no government and Kurds must

acknowledge the state in which they reside (i.e., – Syria, Turkey, Iran

and Iraq), of which, is not Kurdistan.

Finally, the sixth journey ends in Northern Ireland. He makes

the observation that this is the ideal place to conclude his project.

Northern Ireland contains a recurrence of the themes that seemed so

prevalent in the other journeys. In Ireland ethnicity, religion and

politics are all bound into one expression or identity. These are also

evident in the five previous studies.

Is Michael Ignatieff’s work relevant. The answer to this

question is, yes it is. The issue is important. Nationalism presents

itself as a phenomenon. The questions of why people need to retain a

cultural identity and the way they go about preserving it is still

unanswerable. Evermore unfathomable is the violence permeated through

nationalistic expressions, which are "necessary" by the parties

involved. The very existence of the enigma created by nationalism

dictates the need to explore the subject in more depth.

The situations in the book are not isolated events. Nationalism

exists in every state all over the world. There is a dichotomy

presented by Ignatieff between nationalism and federalism. He explains

the political doctrine of nationalism by stating "(1)that the world’s

peoples are divide

Внимание, отключите Adblock

Вы посетили наш сайт со включенным блокировщиком рекламы!
Ссылка для скачивания станет доступной сразу после отключения Adblock!

Скачать