1. HIST2086 Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor Basic political conceptions after 1815 Lecture 4 14 September 2010

2. Basic Political Conceptions after 1815 Conservatism Liberalism Risorgimento Nationalism Socialism

3. Conservatism (1) Conservare (Latin) = to preserve Political counter-currents to French Revolution Considered state, society, law, culture as organically growing institutions → not alterable by ideas, theories, constitutions Defended tradition + God-given order (the ‘alliance of throne and altar’): monarchy, churches, social structure, family, property Saw individuals as part of hierarchical community

4. Conservatism (2) Has general tendency … To develop into ‘reaction’ = obstruction of any development To encapsulate privileged groups (nobility) To submit uncritically to authority, religious orthodoxy, intellectual + cultural sterility = Supported by nobility, clergy, officialdom, landowners esp. in Austria + Prussia (‘Metternich system’)

5. Liberalism (1) Rooted in Enlightenment + French Revolution striving for … Freedom of the individual, conscience, press, thought Equality before the law Constitutional state: separation of powers, state of laws to protect citizens Election of representatives to a parliament Free economy, occupation, trade, business activity, coalition, competition, movement

6. Liberalism (2) Has general tendency … To anarchy (= absence of government) To dissolve public authority in favour of individual liberty To neglect developing complete systems of political thought To shift frequently party positions

7. Risorgimento Nationalism (1) (nation = people, Latin ) Moderate nationalism / patriotism: = Risorgimento nationalism (risorgimento = revival) → Model: Italian nationalism of early 19 th C. Inspired by French nationalism after 1789 German unification movement up to 1870/71 Greek freedom struggle ≠ Ottoman rule (1820s) Belgian freedom struggle ≠ Dutch rule (1830) Polish freedom struggle ≠ Russian rule (1830/31)

8. Risorgimento Nationalism (2) Protest + freedom movement 1815-1919 ≠ existing rule Demands liberty, equality, fraternity Strives for national independence Claims interdependence between political, economic, cultural (language/religious) factors Unifying (Italian, German) type Secessionist (Greek, Czech, Finnish, Irish) type

9. Socialism (1) (Lat. Socius = companion) Synonymous with ‘Communism’ (Marx & Engels) Counter-movement to liberalism & capitalism Aims at just distribution of property, just social order, equal rights, well-being for subordinate classes (proletarians), universal peace, reconciliation of peoples Strives to achieve aims through social reforms, class struggle, revolution

10. Socialism (2) Communist Manifesto (1847) by Marx and Engels: Revolution + dictatorship of the proletariat + socialisation of means of production + final stage → Communism Christian Socialism: Appealed to wealthy + educated to help ease misery of masses ‘Socialists of the Chair’ (liberal political economists): Demanded state interference to solve social problems Labour movement: Trade unions, cooperatives, socialist parties

11. Basic Political Conceptions after 1815 Conservatism Liberalism Risorgimento Nationalism Socialism