This book trains Liah Greenfeld's probing lens specifically on the history of nationalism. The case studies are explained in such a way that one can clearly understand the development of the different forms of nationalism. This concise account ties nationalism to the modern passion for equality, completely unfamiliar to the old world, and shows not only its impact on our political, economic, and social lives but more importantly how it affects our existential reality, particularly in the age of globalization. The book is a must read for all interested in coming to grips with the central phenomenon of our time."- Oliver Benoit, Chair, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, St. George's University;"The rise of China and India, the challenges of radical Islam, the new nativist forces in the West: the world is experiencing tremendous changes and little seems to explain why all this is happening. In this riveting account, Liah Greenfeld, one of the leading intellectuals of our time, forcefully argues that underpinning much of what we are witnessing today is the same force that has shaped human affairs in the last three hundred plus years: nationalism. Nationalism remains the fundamental cultural driver of all major events in the world. This book explains how this is so and what it means for our shared futures."- Francesco Duina, professor of sociology, Bates College;"Greenfeld, the author of massive historical-sociological studies of the rise of nationalism, capitalism, and modernity, here distills the story of nationalism into a short and captivating historical drama."- G. John Ikenberry, Foreign Affairs