Impacts of Nationalism in the Mid-Centuries in the European Politics
Introduction
Nationalism may refer to a strong feeling of devotion and patriotism or the desire for independence that makes people believe a country’s interests are more important than international considerations (Smith 18). This concept became a major issue in Europe during the mid-centuries. Some countries like Italy and Germany benefited from nationalism while Austria experienced more losses than gains from this ideology. This paper explains why nationalism was a unifying factor in Germany and Italy yet it divided Austria.
Napoleon’s intention to occupy German led to the establishment of a movement called German Nationalism that resisted his attempts to invade and conquer Germany. Germans wanted to be independent and thus keep invaders away. Nationalism provoked German under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck to establish the German Unification ideology that provoked the Austro-Prussian War that ensured a win against Austria in 1866 (Smith 59). In addition, the ideology strengthened Germans’ resolve that ignited the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and this contributed to the establishment of the German Empire in the Halls of Mirrors. The fact that a lot of history …show more content…
The Austro-Hungarian Empire supported and encouraged close ties with ethnic Germans and wanted to incorporate Austria into it (Breuilly 91). Several political and activist groups were interested in pan-German nationalist sentiments and thus believed that Austria should be incorporated into the greater German. The impacts of these parties were felt even after the Second World War. Today, the ideology of Nationalism is to blame for splitting Austria into three camps with the third one (Freedom Party of Austria) having strong ties with Germany and advocating pan-German ideologies (Breuilly 104). Therefore, nationalism did not favor Austria but instead weakened
Introduction
Nationalism may refer to a strong feeling of devotion and patriotism or the desire for independence that makes people believe a country’s interests are more important than international considerations (Smith 18). This concept became a major issue in Europe during the mid-centuries. Some countries like Italy and Germany benefited from nationalism while Austria experienced more losses than gains from this ideology. This paper explains why nationalism was a unifying factor in Germany and Italy yet it divided Austria.
Napoleon’s intention to occupy German led to the establishment of a movement called German Nationalism that resisted his attempts to invade and conquer Germany. Germans wanted to be independent and thus keep invaders away. Nationalism provoked German under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck to establish the German Unification ideology that provoked the Austro-Prussian War that ensured a win against Austria in 1866 (Smith 59). In addition, the ideology strengthened Germans’ resolve that ignited the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and this contributed to the establishment of the German Empire in the Halls of Mirrors. The fact that a lot of history …show more content…
The Austro-Hungarian Empire supported and encouraged close ties with ethnic Germans and wanted to incorporate Austria into it (Breuilly 91). Several political and activist groups were interested in pan-German nationalist sentiments and thus believed that Austria should be incorporated into the greater German. The impacts of these parties were felt even after the Second World War. Today, the ideology of Nationalism is to blame for splitting Austria into three camps with the third one (Freedom Party of Austria) having strong ties with Germany and advocating pan-German ideologies (Breuilly 104). Therefore, nationalism did not favor Austria but instead weakened