Nationalism

“Nationalism” is a term fraught with multiple and complex meanings. The OED defines nationalism as “advocacy of or support for national independence or self-determination” that “usually refers to a specific ideology, esp. one expressed through political activism.” This definition provides a useful starting point for examining nationalism as a keyword in Asian American studies. Indeed, nationalism has been central to the intellectual and political project of Asian American studies from its inception through its subsequent trajectory. Using nationalism as a keyword thus offers a productive means to chart a critical genealogy of Asian American studies that traces its key interventions, possibilities, and limits.