Encyclopedia of nationalism /

Just now, when ethnic and interstate conflicts fueled by resurgent nationalism command the headlines, this work could not be more timely. Motyl (political science, Rutgers) provides a wide-ranging examination of the major concepts, figures, movements, and events on this important topic. Volume 1 consists of overview articles addressing topics in three categories: general disciplinary approaches (e.g., geography), historical overviews by world region, and broad thematic issues (e.g., religion), each written by an international authority. The extended essays, standardized in structure, include an outline, glossary, defining statement, cross-references, and bibliography. Volume 2 offers more than 500 brief entries on significant people, places, movements, and ideas in four subject areas: "Nations and Groups," "Nationalist Leaders," "Concepts and Movements," and "Scholars and Thinkers." As a ready reference source, Motyl updates Louis Snyder's Encyclopedia of Nationalism (CH, Oct'90), the only comparable work. A variety of audiences will benefit from this impressive work; although suitable for general readers, it will be especially welcome in major upper-division undergraduate and graduate-level academic collections. D. Ettinger George Washington University