First published 1994
Michael Ignatieff embarks on a journey through six troubled regions to examine nationalism's dual nature. In 1993, he travels to the former Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Germany, Quebec, Kurdistan, and Northern Ireland. He witnesses how nationalism functions as both a destructive force that leads to ethnic cleansing and a unifying call for people to find their place in the world. Ignatieff observes nationalism as a language that speaks in blood and belonging simultaneously. His travels begin in the devastation of the former Yugoslavia and conclude with his return to Britain. The book forms the middle volume of Ignatieff's trilogy on contemporary warfare, alongside The Warrior's Honor and Virtual War. Through personal observation and direct engagement with these conflict zones, Ignatieff reveals how modern nationalist movements shape identity and violence. His odyssey exposes the contradictions within nationalist sentiment, showing readers both its capacity for horror and its appeal as a source of community and home.
Genres: history, 20th-century, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, social-commentary
Setting: Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Germany, Quebec, Kurdistan, Northern Ireland, Britain
Period: 1993
Paperback · Vintage
Content warnings: violence