The Making of the Nations and Cultures of the New World: An Essay in Comparative History

The Making of the Nations and Cultures of the New World explores the question of how a culture - a collective consciousness - is born. Gerard Bouchard compares the histories of New World collectivities, which were driven by a dream of freedom and sovereignty, and finds both major differences and striking commonalities in their formation and evolution. He also considers the myths and discursive strategies devised by elites in their efforts to unite and mobilize diversified populations.