HSY2601
ASSIGNMENT 3 SEMESTER 2 2024
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 11 SEPTEMBER 2024
, HSY2601
Assignment 3 Semester 2 2024
DUE 11 September 2024
Power and the Western World
Introduction
The 19th century was a period marked by significant political, social, and economic
transformations. Among the most influential phenomena of this era were the rise of
modern nation-states and the surge of nationalism. The modern nation-state emerged
as a dominant political entity, while nationalism became a potent ideological force,
driving many political movements and shaping the political landscape of the time. This
essay analyzes the relationship between the modern nation-state and nationalism in the
19th century, exploring how these two concepts were intertwined and how they
influenced each other. The analysis considers the historical context, key developments,
and the theoretical underpinnings that characterized this relationship.
The Emergence of the Modern Nation-State
The modern nation-state is a political unit defined by territorial boundaries, a centralized
government, and a shared sense of identity among its population. The 19th century
witnessed the consolidation of this political model, driven by the decline of empires and
the rise of new political ideologies (Hobsbawm, 1992). The French Revolution (1789–
1799) and the subsequent Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) played crucial roles in
shaping the modern state system. The revolution introduced ideas of sovereignty,
citizenship, and national identity, which challenged the traditional monarchical order and
contributed to the spread of nationalist ideologies across Europe (Anderson, 2006).
Following the Congress of Vienna in 1815, European powers attempted to restore the
old order, but the forces unleashed by the French Revolution could not be easily
contained. The concept of the nation-state, where the political boundaries coincide with
ASSIGNMENT 3 SEMESTER 2 2024
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 11 SEPTEMBER 2024
, HSY2601
Assignment 3 Semester 2 2024
DUE 11 September 2024
Power and the Western World
Introduction
The 19th century was a period marked by significant political, social, and economic
transformations. Among the most influential phenomena of this era were the rise of
modern nation-states and the surge of nationalism. The modern nation-state emerged
as a dominant political entity, while nationalism became a potent ideological force,
driving many political movements and shaping the political landscape of the time. This
essay analyzes the relationship between the modern nation-state and nationalism in the
19th century, exploring how these two concepts were intertwined and how they
influenced each other. The analysis considers the historical context, key developments,
and the theoretical underpinnings that characterized this relationship.
The Emergence of the Modern Nation-State
The modern nation-state is a political unit defined by territorial boundaries, a centralized
government, and a shared sense of identity among its population. The 19th century
witnessed the consolidation of this political model, driven by the decline of empires and
the rise of new political ideologies (Hobsbawm, 1992). The French Revolution (1789–
1799) and the subsequent Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) played crucial roles in
shaping the modern state system. The revolution introduced ideas of sovereignty,
citizenship, and national identity, which challenged the traditional monarchical order and
contributed to the spread of nationalist ideologies across Europe (Anderson, 2006).
Following the Congress of Vienna in 1815, European powers attempted to restore the
old order, but the forces unleashed by the French Revolution could not be easily
contained. The concept of the nation-state, where the political boundaries coincide with
