Books & ideas

Argentina's complex origins

Gonzague Espinosa-Dassonneville — 2026-06-11T16:11:59Z

Could Argentina, instead of being the modern country we know, have developed into fourteen independent states engaged in never-ending competition? From the “disunited province” of Rio de la Plata to the affirmation of a single nation-state, a new book describes a quest for unity that lasted five decades.
Reviewed: Geneviève Verdo, Des peuples en mal d'union. Aux origines de l'Argentine (Peoples without unity: The origins of Argentina) Paris Flammarion, 2025.

The Power of the Masses

Arthur Ghins — 2025-06-24T14:44:31Z

French liberalism, which first emerged during the Restoration, focused not only on individual rights: it also shaped the history of the mass as a subjugated political entity.

The multiple imaginaries of the American nation

Jules Naudet — 2024-10-04T08:00:00Z

Rachel St. John explores the diverse range of nation-building projects that vied for legitimacy and land across the continent during the XIXe century, illuminating the diversity of North American political history and the contingency of national growth and definition.

Democracy With or Without Borders

Camille Pascal — 2020-01-02T08:00:00Z

Can a state exclude people in the name of the common good? What gives legitimacy to definitions of borders and belonging? In this work of political theory, B. Boudou argues for a pragmatic, democratic and shifting approach to borders: only shared interests can define a community.

By Soil and Blood

Jean-François Mignot — 2019-10-24T07:00:00Z

Which countries make it easiest for the children of immigrants to obtain citizenship, and which countries make it the most difficult? This essay gives an overview of birthright citizenship, which may be acquired by soil or by blood and may also include particular conditions or discriminations.

Rousseau in Corsica

Christopher Kelly — 2019-02-07T07:00:00Z

Upon the request of Corsican leaders, Rousseau undertook the writing of what would later be published as Projet de constitution pour la Corse. This new critical edition shows that this unfinished work requires a new title and a new understanding of Rousseau's goals in undertaking it.

Fragile States: Nation-building in Sudan

Christopher Tounsel — 2018-10-25T07:00:00Z

Was nation-building in Africa destined to fail? The question is particularly important for one of the most fragile states in the world—Sudan. Set in a period that straddles the late colonial and early independence era, Alden Young's book addresses the auspices of postcolonial nation-building.

The Great Wall of Britain

Aurélien Allard — 2017-07-20T07:00:00Z

David Miller takes a clear stance on immigration: states have the right to close their borders, but also, to a certain extent, the duty to welcome refugees. His arguments, however, are not entirely convincing.

National Parks & National Pride

Laura Brimont — 2016-03-10T09:08:18Z

The national park is not only a space dedicated to walks, recreation, and even wondrous contemplation, it is also a tool used by the Nation. Guillaume Blanc analyses this overlap between environment and politics through the cases of France, Canada, and Ethiopia.

Europe Torn Between State and Market

Jacky Fayolle — 2015-04-23T05:30:00Z

Two books take stock of the impasse at which European construction has arrived. Who is the culprit? The market, as Robert Salais believes, or, as Philippe Herzog contends, the state? Both declare the postwar model bankrupt and call for a new framework, one that would more effectively involve Europe's citizens.