His most prominent theory on the origin of nationalism starts by regarding the transformation of society from an agrarian based economy and social structure to one centered around industrialism. For Gellner, nationalism is the imposition of a high culture on society replacing local, low cultures and most multiculturalism. From his experience as an ‘outsider’, he develops his first thoughts on identity politics and nationalism. Not feeling at home, Gellner went back to England to pursue an academic career. Upon his return to Prague after the war, he found a much changed city that had lost most of its multiculturalism. As a Jewish Czech, Gellner was forced to leave his home in 1939, fleeing Prague for England in the wake of Hitler’s takeover of Czechoslovakia. Gellner was introduced to nationalism and identity politics during his youth. Ernest Gellner is widely seen as one of the most important theorists in the study of nationalism.
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