History and National Destiny

This volume celebrates Anthony D. Smith’s path-breaking contribution to the study of nations and nationalism. Its objective is to assess and debate various issues concerning the ethno-symbolic approach propounded by him. Ethnosymbolism stands in opposition to the modernist approach underpinning constructivist and instrumentalist theories of nations and nationalism. It argues that such theories fail ‘to accord any weight to the pre-existing cultures and ethnic ties of the nations that emerged in the modern epoch’ (Smith 1999: 9). In Smith’s words: ‘For ethno-symbolists, what gives nationalism its power are the myths, memories, traditions, and symbols of ethnic heritages and the ways in which a popular living past has been, and can be, rediscovered and reinterpreted by modern nationalist intelligentsias. It is from these elements of myth, memory, symbol and tradition that modern national identities are reconstituted in each generation, as the nation becomes more inclusive and as its members cope with new challenges’ (Smith 1999: 9). According to Anthony D. Smith, the basic themes or motifs derived from the claims made by ethno-symbolism are:

本书颂扬安东尼·D. 史密斯对民族和民族主义研究的开创性贡献。其目的是评估和讨论与他所提出的族裔象征主义方法相关的各种问题。族裔象征主义与作为建构主义和工具主义民族及民族主义理论基础的现代主义方法相对立。它认为，这些理论“没有重视现代时期出现的民族先前存在的文化和族裔联系”（史密斯，1999年：9页）。用史密斯的话来说：“对于族裔象征主义者而言，赋予民族主义力量的是族裔遗产的神话、记忆、传统和象征，以及现代民族主义知识分子曾经并且能够重新发现和重新诠释鲜活的大众历史的方式。正是从神话、记忆、象征和传统这些要素中，每一代人都重新构建现代民族身份，随着民族变得更具包容性以及其成员应对新的挑战”（史密斯，1999年：9页）。根据安东尼·D. 史密斯的观点，从族裔象征主义所提出的主张中衍生出的基本主题或主旨是：