The Banality of State Nationalism

Changing Airport Names in the Balkans

Bibliographic Data

ID11046232
AuthorsDragana Svraka (0000-0001-9146-3980, American Political Science Association, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume53
Issue4
Pages877-896
Publication date2025-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNationalities Papers (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-5992 • E-ISSN: 1465-3923
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/nps.2024.65
OpenAlexW4403285548
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited51

This article focuses on the use of banal nationalism outside of the realm of formal politics. I examine several cases of major airports renaming in the Balkans, aiming to uncover distinctive logic behind the state introduction of nationalism in the ostensibly non-political domain. Based on the intended audience (domestic/international) and the chosen commemorative name (accepted/contested), I uncover two paths to banal nationalism: (1) internationally-oriented nation branding and (2) domestically-oriented memorialization. The analysis shows that the same action of renaming the airport can be normalized and taken for granted as assumed by the banal nationalism literature, or it can remain highly visible and disputed, leading to high-profile “hot” nationalism, indicating the failure of banalization. This article calls for more investigation of nationalism in everyday spaces that are not part of formal state domain and politics

Aesthetics · Media studies · Nationalism · Political science · Politics · Realm · Sociology · State (computer science · Balkans: History, Politics, Society · Computer Science · Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics · Law · National Identity and Symbolism · Philosophy

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