Table of Contents

Part 1. Nations 1. Nations and Nationalism 2. Theories of the Nation 3. The Modernity of Nationalism Part 2. Revolutions 4. The Concept of Revolution 5. Limits on Revolution 6. Structural Constraints and Starting Points: The Logic of Systemic Change in Ukraine and Russia Part 3. Empires 7. Coneceptualizing Empire 8. Theorizing Empire 9. The Future of Empire

Promotional Information

In this concise, provocative, and trenchant book, Alexander J. Motyl argues that social scientists must pay more rigorous attention to the formulation of concepts, as they provide the basis for clear thinking, good research, and intelligent formulation of theories. Focusing his "conceptual explorations" on three phenomena-revolutions, nations and nationalism, and empires-Motyl challenges the sloppy thinking that so often surrounds these three interrelated concepts, and moves our understanding of them toward greater precision.

About the Author

Alexander J. Motyl is associate professor of political science and deputy director of the Center for Global Change and Governance at Rutgers University. He is the author and editor of six books including Sovietology, Rationality, Nationality: Coming to Grips with Nationalism in the USSR and Thinking Theoretically about Soviet Nationalities: History and Comparison in the Study of the USSR. He is also the editor of The Encyclopedia of Nationalism.

Reviews

With this volume, Alexander Motyl demonstrates a theoretical agility matched by few others in the academic world and also shows the power of his approach by reconceiving three key concepts of political change in this century. This volume should contribute significantly to making subsequent research and debates about revolutions, nations, and empires more conceptually rigorous.