FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS, CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS AND NATIONALISM

• Published in: Social and economic studies 2004-03, Vol.53 (1), p.95-123
• Main Author: Allahar, Anton L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bourgeois; Capitalism; Caribbean; Caribbean countries; Class; Class Consciousness; Consciousness; Countries; Ethnic identity; Ethnic nationalism; Ethnicity; Group identity; Identity formation; Identity Politics; Imperialism; Jamaica; Liberal nationalism; Marxian analysis; Marxist Analysis; National identity; Nationalism; Political aspects; Postcolonial societies; Postcolonialism; Proletariat; Socialism; Working class
• ISSN: 0037-7651

The present paper aims to propose a schema for analysing the contemporary politics of national identity in postcolonial Caribbean states. To this end it will seek: (a) to provide a comprehensive operational definition of nationalism, (b) to qualify that definition by the addition of the adjective 'ethnic,' and (c) to assess the extent to which the concept 'ethnic nationalism' can help us to understand some of the politics of ethnicity and national identity in a post-independence setting. My argument will be situated within the broad theoretical framework of a non-reductionist, neo-Marxist class analysis, for it is my conviction that ethnonational consciousness and politics are better understood if we are able to trace the concrete class interests and motives of their promoters. In other words, whether as sentiment or as movement, nationalism cannot be divorced from the class interests of its leading promoters. But one must be cautious when absolutizing the class claim, for in the specific case of ethnic nationalism, for example, Robin Williams has noted that "to dismiss ethnicity as false consciousness ignores the clear evidence that ethnies often sacrifice economic interests in favour of symbolic gains" (1994:64-65), and even beyond this, as Ronaldo Munck reminds us, "nationalism matters because people die for it" (1986:2). Este documento estudia la posibilidad de proponer un esqema para analizar las políticas actuales sobre la identidad étnica y nacional de los países del Caribe, en la era post colonial. Para este fin, este buscará: (a) proporcionar una definición operacional general del nacionalismo, (b) calificar esa definición mediante la adición del adjetivo "étnico", y (c) evaluar hasta que punto el concepto "nacionalismo étnico" puede ayudarnos a entender algunas de las políticas de identidad étnica y nacional, en un ámbito de post independencia. Mi argumento estará situado dentro del amplio marco teórico de un análisis de clase no reduccionista, neo marxista, dado que estoy convencido que la conciencia étnico-nacionalista y la política son mejor entendidas si podemos trazar los intereses concretos de las clases y los motivos de sus promotores. En otras palabras, ya sea como un sentimiento o como un movimiento, el nacionalismo no puede estar divorciado de los intereses de las clases de sus promotores. Pero uno debe ser cuidadoso al otorgarle un carácter absoluto a las demandas de las clases, porque en el caso específico del nacionalismo étnico, por