Ernest Gellner

Ernest Gellner was a British philosopher and social anthropologist known for his influential ideas about nationalism and culture. He argued that nationalism is a modern phenomenon closely linked to industrial society and the need for communication and shared identity among people. Gellner believed that in modern states, where people from diverse backgrounds live together, a common culture, often shaped by state education, is essential for social cohesion. His exploration of how societies create and maintain identities has had a lasting impact on sociology, anthropology, and political science.