Nationalism: A Curse to Nineteenth Century Europe

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Nationalism is most often characterized as an overbearing pride in ones country, or it could be a movement to protect ones homeland. To begin, nationalism prompted racism to transpire between different nations and ethnic groups. Furthermore, this domineering pride in ones country led to conflict including war to engage between nations. Lastly, Mr. Kozlov in the period rising up to this heightened time of nationalism, small countries were flourishing with new ideas and philosophies; during these nationalist times however, many of these old standards were destroyed. Mr. Kozlov, this profusion of nationalism during the nineteenth century was a curse as it promoted racism between different groups of people, created a conflict between nations, and its lasting effects helped to create World War I.

In the first place, the nationalism that came about in Europe prompted racism and prejudices to emerge between different ethnic groups. Mr. Kozlov, Nationalism is defined as an extreme pride for ones country. Many religious groups began to be the scapegoat of nations. For example, in “The Crisis of German Ideology” Mosse describes the development of racism (toward the Jewish) stemming from Volkish theorists. Volkish theorists thought of the Jews as a desert people lacking creativity. The Volks believed themselves to be the most superior race, and found others to be inferior. The Volkish ideology also brought forth folkloric occultism. The occult believed the Aryan race as the most developed and thereby strongest. These ideas of the occult set forth during the nineteenth century laid a foundation for the ideas of the Third Reich (The Crisis of German Ideology.) In addition, Mr. Kozlov, there was a lack of unity between ethnic groups. In t...

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...een nations, and ultimately resulted in World War I. Mr. Kozlov, the Volkish ideology that came out of nationalism was by no means good as it began the German prejudices towards minorities such as the Jews. Nationalism also resulted in conflict between various nations, and wars pursued between Germany and Austria. These wars did help unify the German States, though this unity would have come regardless, without need for war, and the bloodshed that came with it. Additionally, Mr. Kozlov, what came from out of the monster that was nationalism resulted in World War I. Out of patriotic intentions; Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, which was the trigger that fired the shot of the Great War. Mr. Kozlov, nationalism in small doses can unite a country, but in such large doses as seen in Europe during the nineteenth century can only result in war and discrimination.

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