National Days Constructing and Mobilising National Identity [Hardcover]

The book shows how national days are best understood in the context of debates about national identity. It argues that national days are contested and manipulated, as well as subject to political, cultural and social pressure. It?brings together some of the most recent research on national days and sets it in a comparative context.Introduction; D.McCrone & G.McPherson The Calendar Conundrum: National Days as Unstable Signifiers; M.E.Geisler 'We wanna show 'em who we are': National Events in England; M.Skey Scotland Days: Evolving Nation and Icons; D.McCrone ReMembering the Nation: Remembrance Days and the Nation in Ireland; J.Poulter Australia Day: A Day for All Australians?; W.Pearson & G.O'Neill Successful Nation-Building and Ceremonial Triumph: Constitution Day in Norway; G.Elgenius Mediating the Nation: Celebrating 6th June in Sweden; M.Rodell The Politics of Calendar: Independence Day in Finland; H.Nyyss?nen Celebrating German Reunification Day since 1990; V.Simon Difficult Days and National Calendars: Italy, Cultural Trauma and giorno del ricordo ; A.Cossu Afrikaner Nationalism's Holy Day; P.E.Louw One Country: Three National Days (Valencia); E.Castello & R.Castello Parading Conspicuous Identity: St Patrick's Day, New York; G.McPherson, M.Foley & A.McIntosh Marking Time: Conclusion; D.McCrone & G.McPhersonDAVID MCCRONE is Professor of Sociology, Institute of Governance, University of Edinburgh, UK. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the British Academy. He coordinated the research programme on Constitutional Change and National Identity funded by the Leverhulme Trust (1999-2005), and its follow-up programme on National Identity, Citizenship and Social Inclusion (2005-11).

GAYLE MCPHERSON is Senior Lecturer in Cultural Policy, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. She leads a team with interests in the consumption and production of festivals and events, both on a global scale and in enhancing colc%