Social Construction of Nation—A Theoretical Exploration

Abstract

In this article, the term “nation” is understood as a mental construct, and the formation of national identity as a dynamic, contentious historical process of social construction. Using the concept of “figured world of nationhood,” I discuss how the subjective, collective perception of the “objective,” virtual reality of a nation is (re)constituted and negotiated through social practices. In the same process, actors come to increasingly identify with and commit themselves to this “figured world of nationhood.” The agency of social actors involved is differentiated according to the respective “social field” of their action.