Nationalism and Socialism
Mathias Gutierrez
Joseph A. Gregori High School
Abstract
This paper discusses how socialism and nationalism were both antagonistic and cooperative forces at different points in the nineteenth and twentieth century. It discusses how both socialism and nationalism grew in popularity as political ideologies. Although prevalent in many european countries throughout the two centuries, the two forces were most influential in Germany.Socialism was created by Karl Marx in Germany and nationalism had been present since the birth of the nation. There in Germany the relationship between the two fluctuated heavily. Nationalism and socialism were also important factors in the history of countries like Russia, France and Italy. Nationalism was used to unite certain groups or ethnicities, while socialism was devoted to
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The ideologies were created after the unification of many nation states and the publication of the Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Nationalism is pride in one's nation, group, or traditions and it can also be a desire for independence. Socialism was based on Marxist ideas and the Communist Manifesto, and it was the idea that the lower classes needed to fight the upper classes and eventually create a system in which society was built on industry and there was no private property. Socialism rarely works with nationalism, especially because socialism is considered to be or wanted to be an international system. However, there is many instances in which socialism is used to create a sense of nationalism among citizens of a country. The battle between the two ideologies was clearly evident in many European countries, including Germany, Russia, France, Italy and many other countries. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century, nationalism and socialism worked together and against each other in throughout
Germany. Nationalism is a complex concept that can be viewed as both a unifying and a disunifying force, depending on one's perspective and background knowledge. On one hand, it can bring people together who share a common bond based on a single "nationality" or ancestry. Those who view nationalism as a unifying force often reject loyalty to a monarch, instead choosing to remain loyal to their fellow citizens. On the other hand, some people see nationalism as a disunifying force because it can disrupt efforts to restore the old order before the French Revolution.
Throughout the years, humans have constructed many unique civilizations; all which follow a distinct social, economic, and political structure. Even so, there is one characteristic that prevails among these societies, the concept of nationalism. In short, nationalism refers to the feelings people have when identifying with their nation. This simple notion possesses the ability to divide or unite collective groups, and has played an important role in many historical events.
Nationalism was expressed throughout the 1800s. These people came together through different ideas. Through these different ideas America came to be known as a stronger nation. The Second Great Awakening, the Industrial Revolution, and the Educational Reform, are all proof that effected nationalism in America.
Nationalism is a political, economic and social ideology, doctrine and practice describing the “advocacy of or support for the interests of one’s own nation”, especially above the interests of other outside nations, individuals, and regions (“Nationalism”). It is a conscious state of mind where individuals believe their duty and loyalty is to the nation-state. It believes that a nation is the most crucial aspect for human social life because it gives a nation a sense of unity by promoting the shared interests and identities of the individuals such as language, race, religion etc. (“Nationalism”). Therefore, the aim of nationalism is to preserve and promote the nation’s culture as opposed to other cultures. Politically, the goal is gaining and
The rise of European nationalism in the 19th Century brought with it an overabundance amount of change that would definitively modify the course of history. The rise of nationalism in one country would rouse greater nationalism in another, which would in turn, motivate even greater nationalism in the first, progressively intensifying the cycle that eventually concluded in a World War. Nationalism as an ideology produced international competition which inspired absolute allegiance to an individual’s nation state. The ideology was fueled by industrial commerce and imperialistic developments which led to nation-states pursuits of outcompeting rival nations.
Nationalism has a long history although most scholarly research on Nationalism only began in the mid-twentieth century. Some scholars point to the French Revolution of 1789 as the birth of Nationalism. The French Revolution is seen...
Nationalism is being patriotic towards one’s own country. It took place in the nineteenth century to those people who shared a language, history and culture. Nationalism led to creation of new powers, which are Italy and Germany. As these countries became united and stronger, they created war against other countries.
Nationalism was viewed in so many different ways by so many different leaders and society. Many conflicts and wars were a long term impact on Nationalism, but some conflicts were a small impact on Nationalism. The Frankfurt Constitution was written and published and also is a document of Germany History today. The article “On the Duties of Man”, by Giuseppe Mazzini and how the map of Europe was redrawn, which was a huge impact on Nationalism. Romanticism was another huge impact of Nationalism, with many changes that was made from artist and how their paintings became more realistic and how everyone had different views on artist’s painting.
Nationalism at its core is the support of a country. The goal of a country is to have some sort of resonance within the individuals that reside there that call themselves citizens. If the citizens don’t feel any connection with their country, they may move to find one that they feel closer too. Once found, they may support the country over others, defend it within conversations of politics or just find groups that have the same ideals they do about the country. This papers purpose is to illustrate the pros of nationalism as well as its cons.
The question then becomes, what did nationalism lead to? It quickly led to war. Once certain phrases became apparent in society, such as “foreign contrivances” and “most intolerable of human beings”, they were bound to accelerate in severity. Many years later, Adolf Hitler contrived some of his arguments and beliefs from Fichte.
Nationalism has played a crucial role in world history over the past centuries. It continues to do so today. For many, nationalism is indelibly associated with some of the worst aspects of modern history, such as the destructive confidence of the Napoleon’s army and the murderous pride of Nazi Germany. Large numbers of people, descent in their hearts, have carried out unbelievable atrocities for no better reason than their nation required them to. Authoritarian and totalitarian regime have crushed dissent, eliminated opposition, and trampled on civil liberties in the name of the nation.
The rise of nationalism and its mark on the history of Europe was quite profound. The unification of major powers and the civil unrest on the journey to unification created a large chapter of history in the nineteenth century. By the 1900s the mark of nationalism had been left on Italy, Germany, France and Great Britain. The major European powers had come through great trials to set the stage for the twentieth century and the conflicts that will erupt. Nationalism will be remembered as a great period of change and growth.
Nationalism was born with the French Revolution. Nationalism refers to the belief that the state and the nation should coincide as a single entity. It is best described in the equation 'people = nation = state.' In 1789 the people of France, defined themselves as the nation, took control of the state and the nation state was created. The sense of nationhood was intensified by the internal attempts to overthrow the revolution and by the experience of the war. Victories abroad instilled a feeling of national pride and of national duty. At first the fraternal wish was to free other subject peoples. Then later to civilize Europe by the export of French ideas and by the further control of foreign territory, which was an aim particularly, associated with the Napoleonic Era (1799-1815). Napoleon claimed that the sole purpose of regulating alien territory was to free Germans and Italians, but whilst he reconstructed the frontiers of the European states, he did very little to encourage nationalism directly. Nationalism developed as a reaction to French rule in the geographical areas of Germany. A general feeling of humiliation blanketed the populace of Germany after the invasion and people began to rise up against the empire of Napoleon I. The spirit of nationalism took a stronghold in Germany.
The most defining characteristic of Marxist socialism is in its collective sense of identity. Marx believed that the goal of his movement and the ideology that had been developed from socialism was to instill a respect and idea of self-worth in the common, working man. Throughout the nineteenth-century in Europe, Marxist socialism began growing and developing into the movement that it became and while there were many central similarities that defined socialism more as a whole, the movement was often divided in terms of the logistics and what each subsection of socialism believed and propagated. In many ways, such as societal roles and the definition of socialism's goals, central schools of Marxist socialism differ and thinkers within these
Nationalism a strong ideology that says the interest of one nation is superior to the other, and what holds them together is the belief to form independence in their culture and ethnicity. In the Balkans and Middle East religion is the most important element to establish a nation.