Culture as Opposed to What?
Vivienne Orchard
The past twenty-five years have seen an explosion of interest in nationalism and nationality the social sciences - ten also cultural studies. These two disciplinary areas define their objects study differently, but both recently started to converge pervasive use term `national identity', which turn relies on `cultural identity'. Although theoretical complications entailed by `identity' as a concept been noted, theorization identity culture has occurred almost default, with `culture' merely designating what needs be explained, inherent circularity identity' category remaining unaddressed. approaches differ understanding crucial categories `politics' accounts nation national identity. Cultural studies focus politics terms politics, thus fail take board important aspects science they standard reference points. Both ultimately rely upon all-inclusive subjectivity, remains undertheorized approaches, albeit significantly contrasting ways. place recent work European functions provides useful counterpoint these difficulties.
European Journal of Social Theory