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    In what ways do national currencies contribute to a sense of national identity? ERIC heller: national currencies might foster national identities in five ways. He says currency structures are rarely mentioned as significant in academic literature. Heller: If we tum to the shelves of books on money and currencies, this subject is understudied.

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    In what ways do national currencies contribute to a sense of national identity? ERIC heller: national currencies might foster national identities in five ways. He says currency structures are rarely mentioned as significant in academic literature. Heller: If we tum to the shelves of books on money and currencies, this subject is understudied.

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    278 views29 pages

    Helleiner - National Identities An National Currencies

    Uploaded by

    Matilda Popa
    In what ways do national currencies contribute to a sense of national identity? ERIC heller: national currencies might foster national identities in five ways. He says currency structures are rarely mentioned as significant in academic literature. Heller: If we tum to the shelves of books on money and currencies, this subject is understudied.

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    American Behavioral Scientist http://abs.sagepub.com/ National Currencies and National Identities ERIC HELLEINER American Behavioral Scientist 1998 41: 1409 Dol: 10,1177/0002764298041010004 The online version of this article can be found at: http://abs.sagepub.com/content/41/10/1409 Published by: @SAGE http:/imww.sagepublications.com Additional services and information for American Behavioral Scientist can be found at: Email Alerts: hitp abs sagepub.comveglalerts ‘Subscriptions: htp/iabs.sagepub.comvsubscriptions Reprints: hip:iwww.sagepub.comijournalsReprints.nav Permissions: hitp:/wuw.sagepub.comjoumalsPermissions.nav Citations: htip:labs.sagepub.com/content/41/10/1408.refs. him National Currencies and National Identities ERIC HELLEINER Trent Universiy Inwhat ways do national currencies contribute ta sens of rational identy? Building on the insights of 19th and early 20th century observers the autho suggests tha national cur ‘ences might foster national identities in five ways (a providing a vehicle for nationalist Imagery tht constructs a sense of cllecive radiion and memory (2) acing asa common medium of social communication that may facile the “communicative efciency” of ‘members ofthe nation ad encourage similar frameworks of thought (c) creating collective ‘monetary experiences that can bolster theeeling of membership ina ational commit of shared fate, (4) contributing 1a sense of popular sovereignty, atleast insofar asthe na tonal currency ts managed in a wary tha corresponds withthe people's wishes, and (e) strengthening the Kind of uat-religioufith thats asrciaedwitknationalism especially when the currency is managed in a stable manner. In what ways do national currencies contribute to a sense of national identity? ‘This question is remarkably understudied in contemporary academic literature. In the large and rapidly growing literature on nationalism, currency structures are rarely mentioned as significant. If we turn to the shelves of books on money and currencies, the significance of national currencies to national identities is sometimes acknowledged but usually justin passing before attention is focused ‘The neglect of this subject in academic literature is particularly surprising given the prominence that itis being afforded in public discussion at the mo- ‘ment, particularly in Europe. Opponents ofthe European Union's common cur- rency project are expressing their concern that the abandonment of national cur- rencies will “dilute” their national identity." Even strong supporters, such as the European Commission (1995) have been forced to recognize that “for some people, the change will feel almost like a change of identity” (p. 49). In new na- tion states in Eastern Europe, the relationship between national currencies and nationalism has also been the subject of considerable attention, All ofthese new ‘Author's Note: For their comments and research help, 1am grateful to David Andrews, Samuel ‘Barkin, Ron Dier Bly Gilbert, Andrea Harrington Sane Kno, David Leyton Brown, Andrew [Lnkiaer, Margaret Moore, Jule Nelson, Randy Persaud Vince Sica ond Cristpher Tomlin, also ‘hank the Social Selences and Humanles Research Councl of Canada for helping to finance some ofthe researchfor hs aricle Direct al correspondance to Bric Helleiner, Department of Political ‘Studies, Trent Universi, Peterborough, Ontario K3I 7B8 Canada, eheiciner@ trent ca AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST, Vol 41 No.1, Aupst 1998 1408-1536 (©1958 Sage Puen, 1409 the SAGE Sil See Cts Rip Reso oF TSEC LER 10. AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST countries have chosen to introduce new national currencies, and one reason has been that these curencies are seen as “a badge of national identity”* ‘This article seeks to begin to address this gap in academic literature by devel- ‘oping way to think analytically about the relationship between national curren- cies and national identities. To do this, I return to insights offered by observers

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