ID | 086959 |
Title Proper | Tolerant exclusion |
Other Title Information | expanding constricted narratives of wartime ethnic and civic nationalism |
Language | ENG |
Author | Neufeldt, Reina C |
Publication | 2009. |
Summary / Abstract (Note) | During war, the demarcation 'enemy alien'- whether on ethnic or civic grounds - can lead to loss of political, social or economic rights. Yet not all minorities are excluded even though they pose problems for civic and ethnic national categories of belonging. This article explores the experiences of an ethno-religious minority who posed an intriguing dilemma for ethnic and civic categorisation in North America during World War II. The Mennonite experience enables a close examination of the relationship between a minority ethnic (and religious) group and majority concepts of wartime civic and ethnic nationalism. The article supports arguments that both ethnic and civic nationalism produce markers for the exclusion of minority groups during wartime. It reveals that minority groups can unintentionally become part of majority 'nationalisms' as the content of what defines the national ideal shifts over time. The experiences also suggest that a minority group can help mobilise symbolic resources that participate in transforming what defines the national ideal. |
`In' analytical Note | Nations and Nationalism Vol. 15, No. 2; Apr 2009: p.206-226 |
Journal Source | Nations and Nationalism Vol. 15, No. 2; Apr 2009: p.206-226 |
Key Words | Anti-Germanism ; Canada ; Civic Nationalism ; Conscientious Objection ; Ethnic Nationalism ; Mennonites ; United States ; World War II |