Nationalism and patriotism are two of the most powerful forces shaping world history. Maurizio Viroli's wide-ranging study shows exactly why patriotism is a political virtue and nationalism a political vice.

Introduction; 1. The Legacy of Republican Patriotism; 2. Decline and Revival; 3. Patriotism and the Politics of the Ancients; 4. The Birth of the Language of Nationalism; 5. The Nationalization of Patriotism; Epilogue: Patriotism without Nationalism

His recovery and reassertion of this long existing, but now obscured, conception of how loyalty, tradition, love of country, and political belonging ought properly to be understood is of immense value.

`The civic patriotism tradition is of particular relevance in the present world of divisive provincialisms. Professor Viroli develops the history of this tradition and demonstrates its power as a corrective to such provincialisms with great force and circumstantiality. His recovery and reassertion of this long existing, but now obscured, conception of how loyalty, tradition, love of country, and political belonging ought properly to be understood is of immense value.' Professor Clifford Geertz, Princeton, New Jersey, USA `We are all in debt to Viroli for his sympathetic and acute dissection of the patriot tradition, and his thought-provoking reflections on our political shortcomings.' Times Higher Education Supplement `This book is a learned political sermon ... This study is conducted in an erudite manner ... The great richness of material convincingly establishes that there was a passionate rhetoric of patriotism of the kind Viroli commends.' John Breuilly, University of Birmingham, Nations and Natioalism, Vol. 3, Part 1 - 1997 `The students of patriotic emotions and arguments will find in Viroli's book many quotations and discussions of well known and lesser known thinkers on the topic ...' Jean Tournon, Nationalism and Ethic Politics vol.3 no.1,1997

this is the first book to give an historical account of the development of the meaning and importance of patriotism and nationalism. important and topical - nationalism continues to be a driving force and cause of conflict throughout the world. nationalism is also the subject of intense academic debate in a large number of disciplines, to which this book will appeal greatly. prestigious author distinctive, and well-written book attractive jacket

this is the first book to give an historical account of the development of the meaning and importance of patriotism and nationalism. important and topical - nationalism continues to be a driving force and cause of conflict throughout the world. nationalism is also the subject of intense academic debate in a large number of disciplines, to which this book will appeal greatly. prestigious author distinctive, and well-written book attractive jacket