CONTRE ANTHONY D. SMITH: UNE RELECTURE CRITIQUE DES THÉORIES ETHNO-SYMBOLISTES SUR L’ANCIENNETÉ DES NATIONS

Abstract

According to the theorists of ethnosymbolism, nations are very ancient communities of symbols, values, myths and shared memories. However, in light of the distinction operated by Rogers Brubaker between the practice and the analysis of nations, ethnosymbolism seems to have borrowed its premises from national ideology, thus compromising ab initio its epistemic objectives. Furthermore, its theorists have arrived at conclusions which are altogether too ambitious, given the theoretical tools, methodologies and, above all, the poor historical record available.