ReMembering the Nation: Remembrance Days and the Nation in Ireland

  • John Poulter
Chapter

Abstract

Nations are discursive constructs. They are the product of ways of thinking about, talking about and living identity, solidarity and power. In making this statement it is not being suggested that nations are not also physically constructed through military action, administration and other material manifestations of power. Nations cannot be sustained, however, if such physical construction is not accompanied by the construction and maintenance of the idea of the nation. This process involves the mystification, the naturalisation, of the existence of the nation. This in turn supports the belief that the nation should be ‘rebuilt’, defended and enabled to endure.

Keywords

Discursive Action Home Rule Irish Republic Irish Republican Army Remembrance Ceremony 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© John Poulter 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • John Poulter

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