Lecture | Leiden University Nationalism Network
‘We want our country back’: Banal nationalism and the continuing significance of the national in an uncertain world
- Date
- Thursday 5 March 2026
- Time
- Location
-
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden - Room
- 1.48
Contemporary media and academic debates continues to frame nationalism with the often dramatic outbursts and activities of more extreme groups who are increasingly able to attract more moderate, but disenfranchised, people to their cause. This is what Michael Billig labels as ‘hot’ forms of nationalism. However, if we only think of nationalism in this way, we miss out on understanding two key issues. First, the ways in which such movements draw on national forms of identification and organisation to attract support and, second, the fundamental link between hot and banal forms of nationalism. Using examples from Europe and the United States, this paper puts forward a theoretical framework for understanding the continuing significance of the national in an increasingly unequal and insecure world and, hence, the power of movements that articulate their grievances in national terms.
How to Attend
All interested LU staff members and students are welcome. Registration is not needed.