The New Nationalisms in the Twenty-First Century:
Memory, Re-Enchantment, and the Politics of Belonging
In the decades following the collapse of state socialism in Eastern Europe, nations and nationalism have experienced a remarkable resurgence. Contrary to expectations that globalization, European integration, and neoliberal governance would lead to its decline, nationalism has proven remarkably resilient and adaptable, taking on new forms and meanings. Contemporary nationalism is increasingly intertwined with memory, heritage, traditions, sovereignty, and competing visions of social order. Nationalist projects draw on narratives of historical continuity, cultural authenticity, civilizational identity, religious belonging, and collective emotions in order to construct and legitimize particular understandings of community and nationhood. As numerous scholars have observed, contemporary nationalism is closely linked to broader processes of re-enchantment, manifested in the revival and invention of traditions, religious rituals, historical reenactments, commemorative practices, magical and spiritual beliefs, and other cultural forms that claim authenticity while serving contemporary political purposes. In this sense, nationalism is no longer merely a political ideology but also a cultural repertoire through which communities remember the past, interpret the present, and imagine the future.
This special issue of Anthropology: Journal for Socio-Cultural Anthropology is dedicated to the diverse forms and manifestations of nationalism in the twenty-first century. We invite contributions from anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, history, political science and related disciplines that explore the transformations, continuities, and contradictions of contemporary nationalisms.
Particular emphasis will be placed on ethnographic and empirically grounded research examining how nationalist projects are articulated, experienced, negotiated, contested, and transformed in different social, cultural, and political contexts. We are especially interested in contributions that investigate the intersections of nationalism with memory, religion, heritage, morality, affect, and processes of re-enchantment.
Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:
- Nationalism and cultural memory
- Nationalism and the politics of heritage
- Nationalism and re-enchantment
- Religious nationalism and public religion
- Ethnocultural nationalism and identity politics
- Nationalism and political emotions
- Nationalism and sovereignty
- Nationalism and populism
- Liberal, conservative, and illiberal nationalisms
- Anti-colonial, postcolonial, and decolonial nationalisms
- Nationalism and European integration
- Nationalism and globalization
- Nationalism and migration
- Historical reenactments, rituals, and commemorative practices
- Everyday nationalism
- Nationalism and digital media
- Comparative perspectives on contemporary nationalisms
Submissions deadline: 1 March 2027
Publication deadline: 30 June 2027
Address: journal.anthropology@swu.bg
