Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Nationalism and Relevance of National Project in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Nationalism has persisted as one of the most powerful, consequential and overdetermined forces in contemporary world affairs. While its origin and trajectory have long been disputed, nationalism's hold on the human imagination is undeniable even in this age of globalisation, with its seemingly relentless cultural, political and economic homogenisation. Nationalism is poised to continue to be a major factor in relations within and among states, as well as in developments at regional, sub-regional, continental and global scales. This seemingly stubborn and resilient character of nationalism and its associated national projects invites the following contending questions of a theoretical and empirical nature... While the answers to these questions are not easy and straightforward, this book has, in various ways, attempted to offer some compelling and well argued responses. The book provided fresh and critical reflections on nationalism and national projects with a focus on Southern Africa, a region where former liberation movements are still in power and where national projects of various kinds have been created as part of pushing forward the decolonisation project into the realm of economic freedom and regional integration. The collection of chapters in the book joins the ever-increasing scholarly debates and conversations around the resurgent significance of nationalism and the national project in twenty-first century world politics.