Framing an Adversary: Ethnic Nationalism in the First Khmer Newspaper

Authors

Ian Lowman, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Newspaper, nationalism, national adversary

Abstract

The study of nationalism examines both global patterns and the singleness of local response. In most fledgling nation-states, the modern phenomena of print and western capitalism transformed indifferent individuals into a politicized public. Printing houses profitably publicized and glorified vernaculars while propagating European ideas of state borders, national cultures, and patriotism. By employing this medium, nationalists toyed with ideologies specific to the concerns of their community; French nationalism thrived on an abstract battle against tyranny while Algerians couched their nationality in the struggle for freedom from France. Each nation's self-conception reflected a search for an ideal of commonality and a separation from "enemies" outside this ideal. Hence, the forging of a nation demanded the framing of national adversaries.

Recommended Citation

Lowman, Ian (2017) "Framing an Adversary: Ethnic Nationalism in the First Khmer Newspaper," The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 32: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol32/iss1/5