{"title":"Lebanese Phoenicianism: Rebutting Anthony Smith's Ethno-Symbolism","authors":"Alexander Maxwell, David Hannah","doi":"10.1111/sena.12415","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Examining national awakening in early twentieth-century Lebanon tests the validity of Anthony D. Smith's ethno-symbolism, which argues that modern national movements arise from older or ancient ethnic cores, which Smith calls <i>ethnies</i>. Since ethno-symbolism contradicts Eric Hobsbawm's notion of an “invented tradition,” contrasting Smith with Hobsbawm illustrates the substance of Smith's argument. Supporters of independent Lebanon frequently proclaimed a Phoenician origin for the Lebanese nation, employing various Phoenician symbols to legitimise Lebanese independence. At first glance, Lebanese Phoenicianism seem to fit Smith's idea that nations are “based on, and being created out of, pre-existing <i>ethnies</i>.” Other nationalists from Lebanon, however, rejected Phoenicianism and Lebanese particularist nationalism: self-proclaimed “Syrian” nationalists imagined a nation that encompassed the entire Levant, while Pan-Arab nationalists extended their national sympathies to the entire Arab world. Both Syrian and Pan-Arab nationalists devised their own ancient pasts, suggesting that nationalists choose their own ancient pasts. If nationalists imagine the national past, ethnic symbols have no causal significance, so Smith's theory does not work.","PeriodicalId":45020,"journal":{"name":"Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/sena.12415","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"ETHNIC STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Examining national awakening in early twentieth-century Lebanon tests the validity of Anthony D. Smith's ethno-symbolism, which argues that modern national movements arise from older or ancient ethnic cores, which Smith calls ethnies. Since ethno-symbolism contradicts Eric Hobsbawm's notion of an “invented tradition,” contrasting Smith with Hobsbawm illustrates the substance of Smith's argument. Supporters of independent Lebanon frequently proclaimed a Phoenician origin for the Lebanese nation, employing various Phoenician symbols to legitimise Lebanese independence. At first glance, Lebanese Phoenicianism seem to fit Smith's idea that nations are “based on, and being created out of, pre-existing ethnies.” Other nationalists from Lebanon, however, rejected Phoenicianism and Lebanese particularist nationalism: self-proclaimed “Syrian” nationalists imagined a nation that encompassed the entire Levant, while Pan-Arab nationalists extended their national sympathies to the entire Arab world. Both Syrian and Pan-Arab nationalists devised their own ancient pasts, suggesting that nationalists choose their own ancient pasts. If nationalists imagine the national past, ethnic symbols have no causal significance, so Smith's theory does not work.
期刊介绍:
Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism (SEN) is a fully refereed journal publishing three issues per volume on ethnicity, race and nationalism. The sources and nature of ethnic identity, minority rights, migration and identity politics remain central and recurring themes of the modern world. The journal approaches the complexity of these questions from a contemporary perspective. The journal''s sole purpose is to showcase exceptional articles from up-and-coming scholars across the world, as well as concerned professionals and practitioners in government, law, NGOs and media, making it one of the first journals to provide an interdisciplinary forum for established and younger scholars alike. The journal is strictly non-partisan and does not subscribe to any particular viewpoints or perspective. All articles are fully peer-reviewed by scholars who are specialists in their respective fields. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism publishes high quality contributions based on the latest scholarship drawing on political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, international relations, history and cultural studies. It welcomes contributions that address contemporary questions of ethnicity, race and nationalism across the globe and disciplines. In addition to short research articles, each issue introduces the latest publications in this field, as well as cutting edge review articles of topical and scholarly debates in this field. The journal also publishes regular special issues on themes of contemporary relevance, as well as the conference issue of the annual conference of the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism (ASEN).