National Language and the Construction of Nationalism: Eric Hobsbawm's Constructivist Perspectives

Abstract

Since the modern era, nationalism, as a political ideology, has profoundly shaped the trajectory and development of world history. As a representative scholar of constructivist theories of nationalism, Eric Hobsbawm has provided critical theoretical insights into understanding the formation and evolution of nationalism by elaborating on its constructed nature. Central to Hobsbawm’s analysis is the role of national languages in constructing nationalism. Drawing from a political science perspective and employing textual analysis, this paper focuses on the constructed nature of Hobsbawm’s theory of nationalism, examines his views on national languages, analyzes the processes of constructing and promoting national languages, and identifies key pathways through which constructed national languages contribute to nationalism. This study represents an innovative approach to both the research perspective and content of Hobsbawm’s theories on nationalism.