The nation‐state in its state‐istics (Belgium, 1846–1947)

Bibliographic Data

ID6307046
AuthorsKaat Louckx (Department of Sociology University of Chicago USA, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume23
Issue3
Pages505-523
Publication date2017-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNations and Nationalism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1345-5078 • E-ISSN: 1469-8129
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/nana.12277
OpenAlexW2526760261
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited25

Statistics are, as the etymology of the term suggests (state‐istics), intimately connected with the construction or administration of the nation‐state. This paper addresses the genesis and development of the nation‐state by studying one of the main instruments that states use to ‘embrace’ their populations, viz. population statistics. More particularly, the paper presents a critical analysis of the conceptual and ‘scientific’ representations of modes of belonging to the nation‐state as produced in the Belgian (Queteletian) population censuses from the mid‐nineteenth until the mid‐twentieth century. It is shown how the analyses of the statisticians' interests, techniques and classification schemes shed light on the various ways in which inclusion in, or exclusion from, the Belgian nation‐state have been articulated in its population censuses. It is argued that these shifting interests and classification schemes also inform us about the construction and administration of the contemporary nation‐state

Administration (probate law · Etymology · Inclusion (mineral · Linguistics · Nation state · Political science · Politics · Population · Social science · Sociology · State (computer science · Demography · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Law · Mathematics · Philippine History and Culture · Philosophy