Nations

Newt Gingrich's 'invented nation' gibe is yet more evidence (if any were needed) that he is a big fat idiot. Nations in the nation-state paradigm are invented or instituted. Many African 'nations' were invented in the colonial era, and have been invented again to get to the post-colonial organisation.  And of course, America.  No nation is more invented than America.

Real common language, common descent, common culture nationhood is something everyone wants, because it gives the self something to hang its hat on, some essence that is in other people and validates how we are. But, as Benedict Anderson points out, we have to make do with imaginary compatriots, because
a. We can't possibly know even a representative sample of our huge modern nations; and
b. If we did know them, we'd know they are not what we hoped for and that we have much less in common than we thought.

Nation-building is not a job for other nations - its a job for people and messages.

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