Nationalism in Europe

Nationalism’s Transformation: From Liberal Idea to Conservative Reality How to make sense of Nationalism in the 19th century National Identity as a Social Construct Italian Unification From Liberal Idea to the Conservative Achievement of Piedmont-Sardinia (1860) German Unification: From Liberal Idea to the Conservative Achievement of Germany (1871) Role of War Terms: Benedict Anderson “Imagined Community” Giuseppe Mazzini Victor Emmanuel II Count Camillio di Cavour Giuseppe Garibaldi Otto von Bismarck Realpolitik Franco-Prussian War German Unification Italian Unification Fr-Prussian War 3rd French Republic Series of Liberal Bourgeois Revolutions Crimean War Austro-Prussian War 1789 1830 1848 1854-1856 1860 1866 1870 1871 1914 LIBERAL CHALLENGE CONSERVATIVE REALITY

Making Sense of Nationalism: The Creation of Nation States Greece (1830) Belgium (1830) Serbia (1830) Italy (1861) Romania (1862) Hungary (1867/1920) Germany (1871) Bulgaria (1878) Finland (1917) Poland (1920) Ireland (1921) Lithuania (1989/1991) Estonia (1991) Latvia (1991) Ukraine (1991) Belarus (1991) Croatia (1991) Slovenia (1991) Macedonia (1992) Czech Republic (1993) Slovakia (1993) Bosnia (1995)

Making sense of 19th century Nationalism Review of Nationalism in early 19th century Liberal Challenge to old regime Revolutionary threat to conservative establishment If nationalism is a liberal idea, why then do we see the unification of Italy and Germany under conservative regimes in Piedmont-Sardinia (Italian state) and Prussia (German state)? Nationalism, which had represented a liberal challenge to conservative rule, became a conservative tool to hold onto and expand power in the late nineteenth century. Nationalism and patriotism becomes a tool of the state rather than traditional tool of coercion and violence. Late 19c nationalism incredibly successful—main feature of modernity National Identity as a social construct Nationalism as historical determinism (Hegel)

An Imagined Community National identity as a social construct Shared Characteristics: Shared language Cohesive borders Shared culture Shared ethnicity Ultimately will lead to questions of “Who belongs?” or “Who doesn’t” Politics of inclusion versus politics of exclusion Note influence of “Social Darwinism” on national identity Creates order and hierarchies of nations Fosters rivalries and competition between nations in Europe and across globe Ultimately, nationalism of late nineteenth century represents Anti-liberal and anti-democratic factions Conservative and military alliance Class and economic status determine viewpoint

The Case of Italian Unification Liberal Beginnings 1830s -- Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) spearheaded the liberal Italian nationalist movement. Young Italy “A country is not a mere territory; the particular territory in only its foundation. The country is the idea which rises upon that foundation; it is the sentiment of love, the sense of fellowship which binds together all the sons of that territory.” “Without country you have neither name, token, voice, nor rights, no admission as brothers into the fellowship of the peoples. …Our country is the fulcrum of the lever which we have to wield for the common good…Your country should be your temple. God at the summit, a people of equals at the base…Votes, education, work are the three main pillars of the nation.” Conservative Reality Led by Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia under leadership of Victor Emmanuel II (1849-1878) and his conservative Prime Minister Count Camillo di Cavour (1810-1861)

Conservative Achievement of Italian Unification Led by Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia under leadership of Victor Emmanuel II (1849-1878) and his conservative Prime Minister Count Camillo di Cavour (1810-1861) Unification as Means to Strengthen Kingdom and Expand Power 1859—War with Austria Help of Democratic Republic Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882) Allured by unification and seeming parliamentary reforms in Piedmont Sardinia (1848 brings “constitutional” government) Rallying Cry of “Italy and Victor Emmanuel!” VERDI March 1861: Victor Emmanuel declared himself King of Italy Piedmont-Sardinia Congress of Vienna Settlement (1815) Piedmont-Sardinia By 1860

Italian Unification Garibaldi leading his “Red Shirts” to Victory over Neapolitan Army, May 1860 Italy by 1870 Unification of Italy by 1861 but not the Democratization of Italy 1848 Constitution of Piedmont Sardinia now Constitution of Italy Resentment of Garibaldi and Republicans Conservative Monarchical Regime with weak framework of constitutional government Problem of Regional Divisions (language in particular)

The case of German Unification Liberal Beginnings: Loose Political and Economic Union: Napoleon: German Confederation of the Rhine Congress of Vienna: German Confederation of States, composed of 38 independent states but Dominated by Prussia & Austria Zollverein : customs union which abolished tariffs among members (18 states in 1834) Liberal Challenge of 1848 New Liberal Frankfurt Assembly had offered emperorship of united Germany to Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia “I don’t take my crown from the gutter” Failure of liberalism to unify Germany in 1848 Liberalism seen as threat to Conservative Regimes So why was it under conservative Prussia’s lead that Germany was unified in 1871? Practical way to achieve and expand power Under Prussian leadership of Wilhelm I (1858-1888) and Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898), German unification is achieved by 1871.

Conservative Achievement of German Unification Like Italy, interests of one particular state led to unification Bismarck, like Cavour, was the architect of German Unification Practical Politics to achieve goals Realpolitik and Power Domestic and Foreign Issues Dismissal of 1858 Liberal Landtag Bismarck: Chancellor in 1862 Wars to achieve land and power Denmark in 1864 Austria in 1866 France in 1870 1867: Northern German Confederation President: King of Prussia Upper House: Bundesrat Members chosen by state governments Lower House: Reichstag Chosen by universal male suffrage

Germany in 1860

Otto von Bismarck Minister-President of Prussia 1859 Directs Prussian drive to control German states Instigates war with Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (1870) Works closely with military leadership: Helmut von Moltke Policy of realpolitik

German Unification 1871

Louis Napoleon, Emperor of the French, 1852-1870 February 1848: Attempt to set up Second Republic Influence of Louis Blanc’s ideas April elections brought more conservative elements into gov’t Gen. Cavignac puts down government Louis-Napoleon runs as “Bonaparte” Early career as dreamer and schemer Dec. 1848 elected President 1852 declared Emperor Use of referendum

Wars Leading to Unification Role for Southern German states 1870: Franco-Prussian War A war over words: The Ems Telegram 19 July 1871: French declare War Battle of Sedan (defeat by 1 Sept) 348,000 Prussians vs. 270,000 Frenchmen Napoleon III Prisoner of war in September Final capitulation on 28 January 1871 May 1871: Treaty of Frankfurt Germany gains Alsace and Lorraine French pay war debt of 5 billion francs France: Establishment of Third Republic

German Unification 18 January 1871: Declaration of German Empire at Palace of Versailles Wilhelm I becomes German emperor Germany now an imperial federation of states Similar limits to representational government as earlier Northern Confedertion Real power in hands of emperor Chancellor responsible to emperor not legislature Federal Bundesrat and Reichstag elected by universal malehood suffrage

Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles

Nationalism and the Nation-State Central feature of modernity Connections between economy, and military power Nation-state as most efficient form of government North German Confederation in 1867 mirrors economic alliance of Zollverein Continuing problem of Klein Deutschland vs. Gross Deutschland