National Identity
Defining National Identity in Greece What are the components that make up national identity? Following the arguments of Anthony Smith, national identity is defined as “a named human population sharing an historic territory, common myths and historical memories, a mass, public culture, a common economy and common legal rights and duties for all members” (Smith, 1991, p. 14). National identity can be analyzed through “nationalism [which] is defined as the ideological movement for attaining and maintaining autonomy, unity and identity on behalf of a population deemed by some of its members to constitute an actual or potential nation” (Smith 1991, p. 73). National identity is essentially built around the contrast between other nations and identifying these differences that bring out the uniqueness and sense of pride within a nation. I will be discussing the elements that define Greece’s national identity. Greece, a country in Southern Europe, is home to a group of people who id...