Geertrui Van Den Bossche

Is there Nationalism after Ernest Gellner? An exploration of methodological choices*

. This paper explores the advance of the study of nationalism with particular reference to hitherto neglected methodologies. After suggesting what might be the lesson to be learned from Ernest Gellners critique of Wittgensteinian linguistic philosophy, I set out some of the considerations and questions which guide my own attempt at a definition of nationalism after Gellner. These are essentially concerned with the function of meaning for ‘real people’, that is, with the substantiation of the nation through the study of ideologies and feelings, links between interest and identity, conditions of responsiveness and the differential success of mass mobilisation. In the remainder of the paper, I explore the benefit that may be achieved from adopting the methodologies of the so-called Cambridge school of the history of political thought and of social representations in social psychology.

Political propaganda in the Brabant Revolution: Habsburg ‘negligence’ versus Belgian nation-building

This paper explores the functioning of political propaganda during the Brabant Revolution, that is, during Belgiums contribution to the ‘Age of the Democratic Revolution’. More in particular, it examines the differences between royalist and patriot propaganda. Detailed reference to the political dialogue pamphlets of the time allows for the reconstruction of the first instance of (cultural) nation-building in Belgian history. In more general terms, the paper hopes to contribute to the argument for an historic and developmental approach to the study of nation, with particular attention for its multi-faceted and (potential) emancipatory functionality.This paper explores the functioning of political propaganda during the Brabant Revolution, that is, during Belgiums contribution to the ‘Age of the Democratic Revolution’. More in particular, it examines the differences between royalist and patriot propaganda. Detailed reference to the political dialogue pamphlets of the time allows for the reconstruction of the first instance of (cultural) nation-building in Belgian history. In more general terms, the paper hopes to contribute to the argument for an historic and developmental approach to the study of nation, with particular attention for its multi-faceted and (potential) emancipatory functionality.