In political science, the study of the semantic construction of concepts like "nationalism" is crucial for understanding their evolution and impact across different eras and societies. Despite the significant consequences of the term from the French Revolution to modern geopolitical conflicts, like the invasion of Ukraine, the field lacks comprehensive studies focusing on how the meanings of such politically charged words shift over time and context. Scholars like Burke, Tully, and Fairclough have highlighted the role of language in shaping political ideas, but the analysis often stops short of deeply analyzing semantic shifts, which are essential for fully grasping the implications of political terminology in both past and contemporary settings.

This Research Topic aims to fill this gap by applying a novel methodology to the study of "nationalism", exploring its semantic construction and evolution. By integrating Ngram Viewer analytics with a mixed-method approach to critical discourse analysis, the research seeks to uncover latent narrative structures and trace the progression of meanings assigned to "nationalism" and other political words. This approach, inspired by historical and critical theorists like Kosseleck and Bertier de Sauvigny, promises a deeper understanding of how these terms have been used and interpreted through various historical moments and cultural lenses.

To gather further insights on the dynamic interplay between language and political ideology:

The scope of this issue is focused on the systematic study of "nationalism" in diverse national contexts including the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Spain, Israel, and Arab nations.

We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

Historical trajectory of "nationalism" and other political terms

Comparative semantic analyses across different political regimes

The role of media and technology in evolving political language

Critical discourse analysis of contemporary nationalist movements

The impact of semantic shifts on political policy and public perception

These contributions will deepen the understanding of how political language, particularly "nationalism", shapes and is shaped by the socio-political landscape.

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Frontiers in Political Science

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