Nationalism and Rationality

This collection of essays uses rational-choice analysis to try to find the origins of nationalism.

Albert Breton (Edited by), Gianluigi Galeotti (Edited by), Pierre Salmon (Edited by), Ronald Wintrobe (Edited by)

9780521142670, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 10 June 2010

344 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.51 kg

"...the whole of the volume is greater than the sum of the individual papers. Indeed, taken as a whole, this collection of essays represents a significant advance in developing a rational choice account of nationalism." James R. Rogers, Public Choice

Why is nationalism so widespread? How does the phenomenon arise? How can its negative consequences be controlled? This collection of essays by economists, sociologists, and political scientists from North America and Europe tries to answer these questions at the forefront of political discussion. The work differs from others in that the authors' responses are not based on avowed ideological perspectives, but are rather drawn from rational-choice analysis, the foundation of social science. Although each of the contributors to Nationalism and Rationality takes a distinctive point of view, the collection as a whole focuses on three subjects - the origins of nationalism, whether and why it promotes good or evil, and how to deal with its occasional destructive consequences. Readers will find provocative insights into nationalism through the contributors' diverse diagnoses and prescriptions.

List of contributors and discussants
Introduction
1. Rights, rationality, and nationality James S. Coleman
2. Self interest, group identity Russell Hardin
3. Some economics of ethnic capital formation and conflict Ronald Wintrobe
4. Ethnic clubs, ethnic conflict and the rise of ethnic nationalism Roger D. Congleton
5. The re-emergence of secessionism: lessons from Quebec Stéphane Dion
6. Nationalism revisited Albert Breton and Margot Breton
7. Notes on the political economy of nationalism Ronald Findlay
8. Conservative nationalism and democratic institutions Jean-Dominique Lafay
9. Can economics explain nationalism? Ugo Pagano
10. The economics of socialist nationalism: evidence and theory Mario Ferrero
11. Regulating nations and ethnic communities Brendan O'Leary and John McGarry
12. Nations competing against themselves: an interpretation of European integration Pierre Salmon
Index.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP]