Museums and the construction of national identity: A review

Issues of national identity are the subject of much discussion and debate, particularly in the fields of social and cultural studies. Museums lie at the centre of these debates, their collections, and the presentation and interpretation of these collections, being inextricably linked to national identity. This paper reviews these current debates within the social and cultural spheres, and locates museums within them. Its purpose is to develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which museums negotiate and construct meanings of national identity. The paper concludes that museums in turn have a significant contribution to make in developing our understanding of national identity.