Yue (Ivy) Blog #1: Communities as Abstract Constructs

Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities explores issues concerning human belonging and the abstract constructs that support the foundation of social groups. He states that nation is “an imagined political community that is both inherently limited and sovereign.” This understanding of the concept of nationality stands in contrast to race and country in the sense that we are pre-destined to be born of a certain genetic grouping, as we are pre-destined to be born in a specific location. Race and country of origin are immutable facts about an individual, which to an extent, serve as landmarks of one’s identity. Nationality however, is as Anderson describes - both “political” and “sovereign.” When one chooses to be part of a nation one also subscribes to the ideologies and morals of that nation.

These observations are discussed in Passing Through, the story of Nathan Adolfson’s deep personal journey of self-discovery. Nathan is a Korean born adoptee to a white American family. Nathan’s desire to rediscover his race and country takes him back to his original family but ultimately he discovers that his national identity is stronger by virtue of culture, custom, habit, language etc.

An interesting notion that exemplifies the abstract concept of nations is the alien invasion scenario. If tomorrow an alien species began indiscriminately killing humans, our racial and national divides would completely vanish given that the parameters that defined the concepts of us versus them. In this sense, one must interpret nation as a set of values that are mutable, flexible and also a choice.

In my opinion, excessive adherence to any form of identity is negative. One should always be curious about one’s origins and respect of one’s forefathers but also cautious not to cross into racism and partisanship.