A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON THE ROLE OF CULTURE AND LANGUAGE IN THE EARLY PHASES OF NATION-BUILDING IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Year 2024, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 1 - 17, 26.04.2024

Selim Sezer

Abstract

As most of the nationalism studies indicate, language and culture are among the crucial elements of the nation-building process. The revival or construction of the national language and culture played a significant role in the formation of national identities of 20th century’s Syria, Lebanon and Israel as well, and these processes find their origins in late 19th century. In effect, Syrian, Lebanese and Jewish intellectuals of the period made huge efforts to construct their national identities, and these efforts were mostly parallel to the universal pattern seen in the same period. Nevertheless, each case has some specific, even unique aspects, too.

Keywords

Nationalism, Nation-building, Syria, Lebanon, Israel

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