Formation of historical consciousness among Greek adolescents: Some insights for political science theory

The explanatory and predictive failures of political science theories on ethnonationalism have generated a movement towards disciplinary self-criticism in the post-Cold War era. Attempts at more robust theorizing on problems of nationalism and ethnicity have been part of larger debates on the distinctions between rationalist and constructivist approaches, as well as differences between comparative politics and international relations, in terms of analytical tools and conceptual categories. Evaluation of Greek data from the Youth and History study of the formation of historical consciousness among European adolescents suggests that material and ideational/constructive factors must receive equal attention as causal forces int he formation of national identity. Furthermore, the Greek data point to a combination of global, regional, and domestic variables in shaping patterns of ethno-nationalism.