Proto-Nationalism: An Analysis of Eric Hobsbawm and John Duncan's Perspectives

This essay analyzes the concept of proto-nationalism from the perspectives of Eric Hobsbawm and John Duncan. It explores the relationship between proto-nationalism and politicians, bureaucrats in the 21st century.

Running head: PROTO-NATIONALISM
PROTO-NATIONALISM
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1PROTO-NATIONALISM
It is not only devotion but also excessive devotion to the interest of nation-state that is
called proto-nationalism. However, it is only interesting since it is not only a self-serving ruling
class ideology but also a popular concept. The ideology of a new kind of political entity has
grabbed the attention of millions. Many have expressed their views regarding proto nationalism
among which the thoughts presented by Eric Hobsbawm and John Duncan have been analysed as
the main focus of this essay. The essay aims to understand the perspective of proto-nationalism
from both the authors’ point of view.
What makes the concept of proto-nationalism grab so much attention and makes the
ideology of a new kind of political entity so vital? According to Hobsbawm, there are two types
of answer to the question. The first one deals with different forms of popular group identification
which grew as the national proper, and another answer is associated with the government and the
way it encourages and direct nationalism to meet their ends. According to Hobsbawm, the
primary role is played by the government. He showed great concern in finding the grassroots. He
compared supra-local bonds and political bonds. Where Supra-local bonds were based on the
family town, the political bonds were based on states and institutions. However, none of the two
bonds seemed to lead inevitably to nationalism. Before turning towards politics, Hobsbawm
looked at three kinds of supra-local relationships that are language, ethnicity and religion. In the
political bonds, Hobsbawm was unable to find anything more than a scattering of peculiar local
cases of proto-nationalism which took their peculiar form. According to Hobsbawm, the political
affiliation was a more promising source of nationalism. The reason for political affiliation was
for it was associated with a people that provided a framework of modern nation-states that were
corresponding to them. Hobsbawm also thought that it was by far the most active kind of proto-
nationalism (Hobsbawm, 1780).

2PROTO-NATIONALISM
In the article proto-nationalism in pre-modern Korea, John Duncan has argued that the
existence of proto-nationalism in premodern Korea might have the four criteria mentioned by
Hobsbawm, language, ethnicity, religion and historical state (Duncan, 1998). Duncan contended
after the examination of educational, organisational and ritual activities of the state. Korea has a
remarkable endurance that implies cultural and social basis for unity along with pre-modern
nature of pre-modern Korean state the country’s bureaucratic polity. It also shows the likeliness
that the organisational activities of the state might have created a homogenous collectivity earlier
than Western Europe. He also suggests that the Korean’s acceptance of nationalism was not an
imitation of the Japanese or German model but an impact of the pre-existing sense of
identification that is identified with the nation’s collective nature.
The two articles are based mainly on the concept of proto-nationalism. After the analysis,
it can be concluded that Hobsbawm has elaborated the term and gave an overview of the
concept. However, Duncan focused on Korea and it’s pro-nationalism.
Question:
How the relationship between politicians, bureaucrats and proto nationalism in the 21st centuries
can be explained?

3PROTO-NATIONALISM
References:
Duncan, J. (1998). Proto-nationalism in premodern Korea. Perspectives on Korea, 198221.
Hobsbawm, E. J. (1780). Popular proto-nationalism. Nations and Nationalism Since 1780:
Programme, Myth, and Reality.