Hoorcollege 1 (1-04) The Challenge of Nationalism
Historiographical approaches to the nineteenth century
- Liberal, nationalist, socialist, conservative historians. Agreeing that the period was fundamentally
modern.
- Attempt to historicize thinking behind modernity. Step back and think about what modernity is. All
new way of thinking.
- ‘Persistence of the Old Regime’, influence of monarchy, nobility, church. Easy to overstate the
modernity of nineteenth century. Monarchy, nobility and church are still very influential.
- Critique of modernity as disciplinary and homogenizing. Ambition to reform people, people become
isolated. Nineteenth century was not very good for women, some people had fewer choices. So it
wasn’t necessarily better for everyone.
-> Emergence of nation state natural development. But no longer take nationalism for granted. Was
not possible for many people.
-> States that that wouldn’t like to become a nation-state: Multi-ethnic states, conservative
monarchical states.
-> Idea of nationalism as a challenge; people don’t have a national feeling but more a local feeling.
Promote a national language so it’s necessary to create a national educational system.
Europe in 1815 (after Vienna Congress)
- Many states are conservative and multi-ethnic.
- GB; sees itself as a nation, but also a multi-ethnic state (Ireland, colonies).
The challenge of nationalism
- How did nationalism, from a structurally weak position, become a success?
- Why did nationalism appeal to so many people? What made it special?
- Under which conditions did nationalist movements achieve nation states?
- Why did nationalism radicalize, including in firmly established nation states?
How did nationalism, from a structurally weak position, become a success?
- Weak position, but building on powerful models. American nationalism, French Revolution.
- Idea that the people are the heart of the nation lives on even after Napoleon is defeated. Uprisings
against Napoleon, national stories.
- Key role intellectuals (journalists, writers, teachers), to form nationalism.
- Nations are imagined communities; identifying with people you don’t know and are far away? Some
things and stories tie these imagined communities together, intellectuals are important for these
national stories.
- Polish uprising against Russian rule in 1863; glorious story of the sacrifice against
oppression.
- Progress needs a national framework; need to organize everything on a national scale, promote
language. Standardized languages are a nineteenth century phenomenon. Tying a nation together
through railway network and infrastructure.
- Repaint history into a national achievement or a missed opportunity. Visible in historiography and
national monuments. Eric Hobsbawm; invented traditions, many traditions are a nineteenth century
invention.
Why did nationalism appeal to so many people? What made it special?
- Appealed to romanticism.
- Appealed to rationalism, scholars organized the nation-state.
- Familiarity; you have to be familiar with your fellow citizens.
- Men; soldiers, war.
Historiographical approaches to the nineteenth century
- Liberal, nationalist, socialist, conservative historians. Agreeing that the period was fundamentally
modern.
- Attempt to historicize thinking behind modernity. Step back and think about what modernity is. All
new way of thinking.
- ‘Persistence of the Old Regime’, influence of monarchy, nobility, church. Easy to overstate the
modernity of nineteenth century. Monarchy, nobility and church are still very influential.
- Critique of modernity as disciplinary and homogenizing. Ambition to reform people, people become
isolated. Nineteenth century was not very good for women, some people had fewer choices. So it
wasn’t necessarily better for everyone.
-> Emergence of nation state natural development. But no longer take nationalism for granted. Was
not possible for many people.
-> States that that wouldn’t like to become a nation-state: Multi-ethnic states, conservative
monarchical states.
-> Idea of nationalism as a challenge; people don’t have a national feeling but more a local feeling.
Promote a national language so it’s necessary to create a national educational system.
Europe in 1815 (after Vienna Congress)
- Many states are conservative and multi-ethnic.
- GB; sees itself as a nation, but also a multi-ethnic state (Ireland, colonies).
The challenge of nationalism
- How did nationalism, from a structurally weak position, become a success?
- Why did nationalism appeal to so many people? What made it special?
- Under which conditions did nationalist movements achieve nation states?
- Why did nationalism radicalize, including in firmly established nation states?
How did nationalism, from a structurally weak position, become a success?
- Weak position, but building on powerful models. American nationalism, French Revolution.
- Idea that the people are the heart of the nation lives on even after Napoleon is defeated. Uprisings
against Napoleon, national stories.
- Key role intellectuals (journalists, writers, teachers), to form nationalism.
- Nations are imagined communities; identifying with people you don’t know and are far away? Some
things and stories tie these imagined communities together, intellectuals are important for these
national stories.
- Polish uprising against Russian rule in 1863; glorious story of the sacrifice against
oppression.
- Progress needs a national framework; need to organize everything on a national scale, promote
language. Standardized languages are a nineteenth century phenomenon. Tying a nation together
through railway network and infrastructure.
- Repaint history into a national achievement or a missed opportunity. Visible in historiography and
national monuments. Eric Hobsbawm; invented traditions, many traditions are a nineteenth century
invention.
Why did nationalism appeal to so many people? What made it special?
- Appealed to romanticism.
- Appealed to rationalism, scholars organized the nation-state.
- Familiarity; you have to be familiar with your fellow citizens.
- Men; soldiers, war.
