Imagined Communities: The Origins and Spread of Nationalism

Since the publication of "Imagined Communities" in 1983, it has not only caused a complete Copernican-style reversal of the academic world's thinking on the subject of nation and nationalism, but its profound influence has also spread to all fields of the humanities and social sciences. In addition to being translated into thirty-one languages ​​and published, it has even become an almost textbook work, far exceeding the author's expectations.

Anderson explores the origins of nationalism from the perspective of changes in cultural connotations and the rise of print capitalism, and analyzes how nationalism was born in the Americas, was appropriated by mass movements in Europe, absorbed by imperial regimes, and then became the basis of nationalism in Asia and Africa. The centuries-long process of anti-imperialist resistance.

This expanded Chinese edition includes a new chapter added by Anderson in 2006, which briefly examines the impact of the book and discusses its publication and response around the world; it also includes two articles by the author in 2003 about the book. Seminar lecture notes on the situation in Taiwan, as well as the translator’s affectionate account of the interview with this academic master.