Abstract

Across the world, few themes are more politically explosive than the nation. From the start, Mauss conceived of this book as an intervention beyond scholarly discourse into political activism, including a critical reflection on nationalisms. His project likely originated between 1914 and 1918, when he was fighting at the front; its empirical and conceptual developments (mostly written around 1920) are driven by the urge to contribute concrete conclusions to ensure peace. A century later, precisely because Mauss has become such an iconic figure in the intellectual realm, the book’s current reception in France is tinged with today’s politics.