Sociology
The Role of Nostalgia in Collective Identity Formation
Quick fact
Nation-states often deliberately cultivate nostalgia by creating public holidays and monuments that commemorate historical events—even when those events occurred long before most citizens were born—to foster a sense of shared destiny and loyalty.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever felt a pang of longing for a past you never actually experienced? For many groups, that shared longing for a golden age they never lived through is a glue that binds them together.