Nationalism & Capitalism | Zlatko Hadžidedić on Liberalism, Sovereignty & Global Power

In this intellectually rigorous episode of Kianistan, we are joined by Zlatko Hadžidedić, Director of the Center for Nationalism Studies and author of Nations and Capital: The Missing Link in Global Expansion (Routledge, 2022) and Forced to be Free: The Paradoxes of Liberalism and Nationalism.Dr. Hadžidedić presents a bold and structurally grounded argument: that modern nationalism is not a primordial force, but a deliberate construct emerging alongside capitalism to stabilize societies and facilitate capital expansion. Drawing on theorists such as Ernest Gellner, Benedict Anderson, and Karl Marx, he explores the historical development of both capitalism and the nation-state, challenging conventional narratives about sovereignty and democracy.The conversation examines nationalism as a form of social glue — an ideological framework that legitimizes political authority while masking contradictions within liberal thought. We discuss the differences in nationalist models across Europe, the Middle East, the former Yugoslavia, and major powers like China, Russia, and the United States.Dr. Hadžidedić also distinguishes between civilizations and nations, addressing whether nationalism is a purely modern phenomenon tied to capitalism or whether it has deeper historical roots. The discussion moves into globalization, hypercapitalism, and the rise of authoritarian nationalism — exploring how these forces interact in today’s fractured geopolitical order.The episode concludes with reflections on the future of nationalism and capitalism, and whether we are entering a new era of intensified authoritarianism or structural transformation within the global system.🎙 Topics Discussed:• The structural relationship between nationalism and capitalism• Historical development of nation-states and capital expansion• Gellner, Anderson, Marx & competing theories of nationalism• Nationalism as social glue and ideological stabilizer• Civilizations vs. nations: conceptual distinctions• Modern vs. prehistoric nationalism debate• Globalization and the reshaping of sovereignty• Authoritarian nationalism in the age of hypercapitalism• Case studies: China, Russia, the US & the Middle East• The future of capitalism and global political order👤 About Zlatko Hadžidedić:Zlatko Hadžidedić is a political theorist and Director of the Center for Nationalism Studies. His work focuses on the structural interplay between nationalism, liberalism, and global capitalism, offering a theoretically rigorous framework for understanding sovereignty, democracy, and ideological power in the modern world.X : https://x.com/zhadzidedic5Website : 📌 Subscribe for deep, theory-driven conversations on global politics and political economy.🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms — search Kianistan.🌐 Visit: www.kianistan.com💼 Sponsored by: www.worldwidelistings.co.ukHashtags:#ZlatkoHadzidedic ,#Nationalism , #Capitalism , #Liberalism , #PoliticalTheory ,#Globalization , #Sovereignty , #Authoritarianism , #Geopolitics , #KianistanPodcast