Reconstructing the Nation in Africa: The Politics of Nationalism in Ghana

(Paperback)

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The established theories and debates on nationalism were formed in the twin crucibles of Eighteenth-century Europe and America, and continue to be informed by that heritage. Reconstructing the Nation in Africa challenges some of the key principles that underlie the current debates on nationalism by exploring in depth the experience of multinational states in Africa. Taking Ghana as a case study, Michael Amoah introduces and develops two important new contributions to the theoretical tapestry of nationalism --the Rationalisation of Nationalism and Reconstructing the Nation, concepts that should have wide use and currency in the broader discussion of the national phenomenon. Reconstructing the Nation in Africa argues that the nationhood of Ghana is not rooted in modernity as is generally thought, and attempts to show by analysis of the microbehavior of its population that traditional views on the viability of the multinational state do not necessarily hold true for modern-day Africa.

Reviews

Amoah challenges the Eurocentric use of the late 18th century France as the threshold for the emergence of nationalism. He proposes that the term nation as defined by modernists could be applied to African entities which pre-date the French Revolution. The Ashante nation emerged in 1701 and the Fante nation even earlier ... Reconstructing the Nation in Africa is an interesting read that can be used for both upper division and graduate courses * African Studies Quarterly *
This book makes an interesting and thought-provoking contribution to the study on ethnonationalism and voter behaviour in Ghana. * Nations and Nationalism *
Michael Amoahs Reconstructing the Nation in Africa: The Politics of Nationalism in Ghana is an important work on nationalism, ethnic groups, and the history and politics of nation building in Africas multinational states since independence. The book will be of tremendous value to scholars of African history and politics, as well as for informing development policies in multinational states such as Ghana. Students of Africana studies and international politics should also find this work to be of tremendous value. * Obsidian *

Author Bio

Michael Amoah is a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), and the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism (ASEN) based in the London School of Economics (LSE).