Patriotism

by Charles Jones, Richard Vernon

Overview

From flag-waving to the singing of national anthems, the practices and symbols ofpatriotism are inescapable, and modern politics is increasingly full of appeals topatriotic fervour. But if no-one chooses where they were born, and our ethicalobligations transcend national boundaries, then does patriotism make any sense? Doesit encourage an uncritical attachment to the status quo, or is it a crucial way ofunderstanding and applying our freedoms and moral duties?

In this engaging book, Charles Jones and Richard Vernon guide us through thesequestions with razor-sharp clarity. They examine the different ways patriotism has beendefended and explained, from a republican attachment to free and democraticinstitutions to an ethical and historical fabric that makes our entire moral life andidentity possible. They outline its relationship to a range of other key concepts, such asnationalism and cosmopolitanism, and skilfully analyse the issues surroundingpartiality to country and whether we should prioritise the welfare of our compatriotsover outsiders.

This concise and lucid volume will be essential for both students and general readerswishing to understand the contemporary resonance and historical development ofpatriotism, and how it intersects with debates about global justice, cosmopolitanismand nationalism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781509518326
Publisher:	Polity Press
Publication date:	04/30/2018
Series:	Key Concepts in Political Theory
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Charles Jones is Associate Professor of Political Science at Western University, Canada

Richard Vernon is Distinguished University Professor of Political Science at Western University, Canada

Table of Contents

• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Community, Loyalty, and Partiality
• Chapter 2: Nationalism, Patriotism, and Cosmopolitanism
• Chapter 3: The Republican Alternative
• Chapter 4: Special Concern for Our Compatriots
• Conclusion: A Subsidiarity Defence
• References

Editorial Reviews

"Jones and Vernon’s Patriotism is simply the best available introduction to the tangled questions about citizenship and belonging that roil contemporary political theory. They write with unfailing grace and clarity, their command of the relevant scholarship is peerless, and they are scrupulously fair to rival viewpoints. They deserve a very wide readership."
—Eamonn Callan, Stanford University

"In this timely work Charles Jones and Richard Vernon comprehensively examine the idea of patriotism, the different forms it might take, and how it might relate to other important concepts including nationalism and cosmopolitanism. This is a rich and accessible introduction to an important idea playing a key role in current political discourse."
—Gillian Brock, University of Auckland

"This book is a subtle and elegant discussion of the nature of patriotism, which manages to survey a vast literature without pedantry, while lucidly and persuasively defending a particular conception of love of country."
—K. Anthony Appiah, New York University

From the Publisher