CfP Lychnos 2027: Nations and Nationalisms: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Dynamics

Nations and Nationalisms: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Dynamics

Guest editors: Julia Håkansson, Magnus Rodell, Erik Thosteman julia.hakansson@kultur.lu.se, magnus.rodell@sh.se, erik.thosteman@engelska.uu.se

Nationalist movements and ideas of nationhood play a central role around the world today, from Trump’s MAGA movement to Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalism. Around the turn of the millennium, discussions frequently centred on a globalised world. In various contexts, it was argued that the nation had declined in importance or had become obsolete as a shared framework and a basis for collective identities and communities. Global developments over the past 10–15 years have shown that these predictions have not been borne out. In Sweden, the nationalist Sweden Democrats have been one of the country’s largest political parties since the 2022 election and have exerted considerable influence over policies implemented during the 2022–2026 parliamentary term. How should we understand the continued and renewed influence of the nation and nationalism, both in Sweden and elsewhere in the world? How have expressions of nationalism changed?

This special issue aims to explore nations and nationalisms in both historical and contemporary contexts. We welcome contributions addressing different periods and geographical settings. Contributions may be empirically oriented, offer methodological or theoretical reflections, or combine these approaches. We also welcome discussions of how nations and nationalisms can be studied in the 2020s. Possible topics include:

·       The construction of nations and nationalisms in relation to spatial and symbolic boundaries and practices

·       National belonging in relation to diaspora, transnationalism and minorities

·       Nations and nationalism in relation to democracy, citizenship, freedom, war, empires, fascism and populism

·       The nation in times of international instability, civil- and defense preparedness and crisis

·       Nations and nationalism in relation to gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality and age

·       Nations and nationalism in schools and other educational settings

·       Representations of the nation across different media, past and present

·       The nation in everyday life: “banal” nationalism

Timeline:

·       1 November: Submit abstracts to the guest editors.

·       15 November: The guest editors will notify authors whether their proposals have been accepted.

·       March 2027: Zoom meeting with the authors to discuss their contributions (date to be announced).

·       15 April: Submit completed manuscripts for peer review. Manuscripts must comply with Lychnos’s author guidelines.

·       15 June: Manuscripts and peer-review reports will be returned to the authors.

·       20 August: Submit final revised manuscripts to the guest editors.

·       20 September 2027: Manuscripts ready for publication.