Die Konstruktion einer nationalen Identität in Namibia

What is the essence of national identity? Why is this collective sentiment such an important feature for governments? How is it that the idea that the nation-state is a natural habitat for a culturally-defined, politically non-descript collective is still so very much alive, even though intellectual concepts that show quite the opposite, namely how national culture is constructed according to the political interests of an established regime, have become popular already back in the 80s? The author addresses these and related questions and examines the various initiatives that sought to create a national identity in Namibia during the first decade following its independence.