Nationalism and Rationality [Paperback]

This collection of essays uses rational-choice analysis to try to find the origins of nationalism.Why is nationalism so widespread today? How does the phenomenon arise? This collection of essays by leading social scientists tries to answer these questions at the forefront of contemporary 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 collection 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.Why is nationalism so widespread today? How does the phenomenon arise? This collection of essays by leading social scientists tries to answer these questions at the forefront of contemporary 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 collection 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.Why is nationalism so widespread today? How does the phenomenon arise? This collection of essays by leading social scientists tries to answer these questions at the forefront of contemporary 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 collection 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.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 cl¨