ethnosymbolism
Etymology
From ethno- + symbolism.
ethnosymbolism means A school of thought in the study of nationalism that stresses the importance of symbols, myths, values, and traditions in the formation and persistence of the modern nation-state. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 95 out of 100.
Why “ethnosymbolism” is a great word
ETHNOSYMBOLISM — [Noun] A theory of nationalism asserting that modern nations are constructed atop the durable cultural foundations of pre-existing ethnic communities, their symbols, myths, and historical memories. From the combining form ethno- (from Greek ethnos, "nation, people") + symbolism. Unlike "modernism" (which sees the nation as a novel invention of industrial society) or "primordialism" (which treats ethnic ties as ancient and natural givens), ethnosymbolism charts a middle course, viewing the nation as a modern political form animated by older, deeply felt cultural legacies. It is the tricolor stitched from a medieval heraldic banner, the half-remembered battle hymn revived for a state holiday, the ancient epic curated in a school textbook—a quiet acknowledgment that political belonging is often a conversation with ghosts.
noun
- A school of thought in the study of nationalism that stresses the importance of symbols, myths, values, and traditions in the formation and persistence of the modern nation-state.