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Nationalism definition • According to Merriam-western dictionary is the loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.
According to oxford dictionary • na·tion·al·ism • 1. National spirit or aspirations. • 2. devotion and loyalty to one's own nation; patriotism. • 3. excessive patriotism; chauvinism. • 4. the desire for national advancement or independence. • 5. the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one's own nation, viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations.
Difference between patriotism and nationalism • Patriotism is proud of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest,” but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is. — Sydney J. Harris
Beginning of Nationalism in Europe With the end of the “ feudal age “ almost all the countries adopted nation-state like their political and social regimens. But is only until the centuries XVIII and XIX with the hustle and bustle of the romanticism that take its real meaning the conception of Nationalism like the belonging to a certain nation characteristic well defined, such as characteristics makes it different from the other, and gives an identity personal and collective.
The rise of the nationalism in Europe and its impact on it. • Eastern Europe: The spread of nationalist ideas among the various Slavic peoples there after the revolutions of 1848 combined with the steady decay of the Hapsburg and Ottoman Empires to create a particularly volatile situation. These generated growing nationalist movements that destabilized the already crumbling Hapsburg and Ottoman empires. To complicate matters even further, Russia became increasingly involved in Balkan politics, posing as the champion of Slavic liberties and nationalism against the Slavs' Turkish and Austrian masters. This heightened tensions between Austria, Turkey, and Russia and would provide the spark to set off World War I.
Central Europe: Germany and Italy in particular, had been broken into numerous states, a situation which had invited centuries of foreign intervention, conquests, and wars in both countries. Here also, the revolutions of 1848 combined with German and Italian frustration over this situation to generate strong sentiments for national unification in both countries. The middle classes in Italy and Germany especially supported national unification by strong governments that could end internal tolls, build national railroads, and support new industries.
Both Italy and Germany were lucky to have brilliant prime ministers to lead them through unification: Camillo Cavour for the Italian state of Sardinia and Otto von Bismarck for the German state of Prussia. Both men skillfully combined strong internal developments of their respective states with opportunistic diplomacy and warfare to unify Italy and Germany by 1871. Both nations would also strive to industrialize in the latter 1800's. Germany proved especially successful in this endeavor. However, the presence of two unified nations in place of a multitude of little states, especially that of a strongly industrialized Germany, seriously upset the balance of power in Europe, which would also lead to World War I.
Bismarck by instigate war to France (war won by Bismarck) achieve the unification of Germany as one big nation, then in an alliance with Italy defeat Austria, then in order to avoid potentials enemies create the triple alliance, and a pact with Russia, but in 1888 Guillermo the first died ant Guillermo the second takes his place, in 1890 for huge differences with Bismarck, Guillermo II the second decides to separate Von Bismarck from the German politics. This no doubt changed things on Europe.
Since 1890 German policy create several conflicts in Europe, France promote the creation of the Triple Entente with Russia and England, then the world war I begins in 1914, Italy also break the alliance with Germany and turn against it, in November 1918 the war ends and is signed the treaty of Versailles , with it German army is reduced and several and heavy reparations and accept the responsibility for have caused the war. Many sociologist accord that this treaty was the main reason for world war II.
Dangerous Nationalism after WWI With the big oppression to Germany Adolf Hitler with his ultra nationalist speech advanced very quick to win the respect and fidelity of Germans due to his power of speech, and the need of the people for a liberator. The majority of Hitler’s policies were in order to increase the national feeling and the most known the superiority of the Aryan race and the guilt of Jews of all the problems in Germany. Is a similar case at the same time with Mussolini in Italy and his dream of bringing back to life the gloriousness of the roman empire.
After WW II After WW II the entire world, but mainly Europe adopted politic totally different, the hunger of expansion was stopped(or at least changed the ways to get it) the world new goal was the peace, the prosperity, the union, and sphere was consolidated the EU, even dough all the differences among themselves, there was a vision bigger than any difference. Nationalism was let it back and supranationalism was the new wave.
Nationalism in our days During the economic boom in the EU hundreds of thousands of non European workers were brought from different countries to France, Germany and England mainly. After the crisis of the oil in the 30’s, things took a different direction and the global economy got frozen. All those immigrants stayed the majority with family, with not high professional qualification and in many cases even without speaking the local language.
The remaining of the immigrants in this countries has created groups of minorities. Since some years ago high right winged political parties have blamed those groups for the economical problems they have. This is in one way the rebirth of national feelings which settle differences between the citizens birth of foreign origin people and the sons of the locals , who feel to have more rights that the “others” The problems would be that this type of speech is taking more fame little by little and more acceptance from the people.
The right example is in France with the Front National, since its beginning in the 60’s with his founder Jean Marie Le Pen that when he began was took as a crazy who only speak silliness to our days with her daughter Marine Le Pen, who just in few years has increased the popularity of the party in unexpected ways, taking in count that for last elections his father got the 10.4% of the votes and she in surveys made between January and July this year has got until 26 % of the intention of votes. Here a little video of FN campaign http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGgDdh2JOU8&feature=related
If we have time another video more than interesting. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdsnTLvHu6w&feature=related
