Positing "not-yet-nationalism": limits to the impact of nationalism theory on Kurdish historiography. Issue 5 (20th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maxwell, Alexander; Smith, Tim
• Is Part Of: Nationalities papers. Volume 43:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 771
• Page End: 787
• Publication Date: 2018-11-20
• Subjects: nationalism -- national awaking -- nationalism theory -- Kurdish history; Ethnology -- Europe, Eastern -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- Former Soviet republics -- Periodicals; Immigrants -- United States -- Periodicals; 305.8
• DOI: 10.1080/00905992.2015.1049135
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0090-5992

Abstract

Abstract : This article examines the impact of nationalism theory, and specifically the theory of national awakening, on Kurdish historiography. Kurdish experts cite several famous nationalism theorists, but seem most impressed by Anthony Smith's model of a singular transformation in which a not-yet-national community becomes a proper nation. Kurdish experts do not always use Smith's terminology, however, and often invoke other scholars in support of the singular transformation model. Kurdish historiography disagrees what the singular transformation entails, and different thresholds of nationalism imply wildly different dates for the birth of Kurdish nationalism. Stage theories of national awakening have had little impact, and ought to be reconsidered.