Anthony D. Smith 
The Cultural Foundations of Nations 
Hierarchy, Covenant, and Republic

This major new work by Professor Anthony D. Smith challenges the
notion of nationalism as a product of modernity.

* Major new work by a leading historical sociologist

* Challenges the prevailing idea of nationalism as a product of
modernity

* Demonstrates that different political forms of community and
collective identity from pre-modern times have contributed to the
formation and character of nations

* Analyzes the chronology and nature of nations, from the ancient
world, to the European Middle Ages, the early modern, and the
modern eras

* Discusses alternative destinies facing modern nations
today

Table of Content

Preface.

Introduction: The Theoretical Debate.

1 The Concept and its Varieties.

2 Ethnic and Religious Roots.

3 Community in the Ancient World.

4 Hierarchical Nations.

5 Covenantal Nations.

6 Republican Nations.

7 Alternative Destinies.

Conclusion.

Notes.

References

About the author

Anthony D. Smith is President of the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is author of numerous works on nationalism including The Ethnic Origins of Nations (Blackwell, 1986), Chosen Peoples: Sacred Sources of National Identity (2003) and The Antiquity of Nations (2004). He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Nations and Nationalism.