🏴Nationalism Unit 3 – Romanticism and Ethno-Nationalism's Rise

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Romanticism philosophical and artistic movement emphasizing emotion, individualism, and glorification of nature that emerged in late 18th century Europe
• Ethno-nationalism political ideology asserting that nations are defined by shared ethnicity, language, and cultural heritage rather than political boundaries or citizenship
• Volksgeist concept in Romanticism referring to unique spirit or character of a particular people or nation
• Primordialism belief that national identities are ancient, natural, and unchanging rather than socially constructed
• Self-determination principle that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and political status without external interference
• Revolutions of 1848 series of political upheavals across Europe inspired by nationalism and liberalism
• Risorgimento 19th-century movement for Italian unification and independence
• Pan-Slavism movement advocating for cultural and political unity among Slavic peoples of Central and Eastern Europe

Historical Context

• Age of Enlightenment (18th century) emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional authority
  • Romanticism emerged as a reaction against Enlightenment rationalism and neoclassicism
• French Revolution (1789-1799) overthrew monarchy and established a republic based on principles of liberalism and nationalism
  • Inspired other nationalist and revolutionary movements across Europe
• Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) spread ideas of nationalism and self-determination across Europe
  • Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) redrew European borders and sought to suppress nationalism
• Industrial Revolution led to economic and social changes that disrupted traditional ways of life
  • Rapid urbanization and growth of the middle class
  • Romanticism and nationalism offered a sense of identity and belonging in a changing world

Romantic Movement's Influence

• Emphasized emotion, imagination, and individualism over reason and classical restraint
• Glorified nature as a source of spiritual inspiration and escape from modern society
  • Landscape painting and nature poetry celebrated the beauty and sublimity of the natural world (Caspar David Friedrich, William Wordsworth)
• Valued folk culture, traditions, and vernacular languages as expressions of national identity
  • Collection and study of folk tales, songs, and customs (Brothers Grimm)
• Promoted the idea of the artist as a creative genius with a unique vision
• Influenced the development of musical nationalism
  • Composers drew on folk melodies and themes to create a distinctive national style (Frédéric Chopin, Bedřich Smetana)

Rise of Ethno-Nationalism

• Emerged in the early 19th century as a fusion of Romantic nationalism and ethnic identity
• Emphasized the importance of shared language, culture, and ancestry in defining national identity
  • Johann Gottfried Herder argued that each nation has a unique Volksgeist shaped by its language and traditions
• Fueled demands for self-determination and independence among ethnic groups within multiethnic empires
  • Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) against the Ottoman Empire
  • Revolutions of 1848 sought to create independent nation-states based on ethnic and linguistic boundaries
• Led to the unification of Italy (Risorgimento) and Germany based on shared ethnic and cultural identity
• Pan-Slavism movement advocated for unity among Slavic peoples against Ottoman and Habsburg rule
  • Contributed to the outbreak of World War I and the dissolution of multiethnic empires

Key Figures and Their Ideas

• Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803) German philosopher who developed the concept of Volksgeist
  • Argued that language and culture are the foundations of national identity
• Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) Italian nationalist and leader of the Risorgimento
  • Advocated for Italian unification and independence based on shared language and culture
• Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) Polish composer and leading figure of musical nationalism
  • Incorporated Polish folk melodies and rhythms into his compositions
• Theodor Herzl (1860-1904) Austrian-Jewish journalist and founder of modern Zionism
  • Advocated for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine based on shared ethnic and religious identity
• Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) U.S. President who championed the principle of self-determination
  • Proposed the creation of new nation-states based on ethnic and linguistic boundaries after World War I

Cultural Expressions

• Literature Romantic novels and poetry celebrated national history, folklore, and landscapes
  • Sir Walter Scott's historical novels (Ivanhoe) popularized Scottish culture and identity
  • Adam Mickiewicz's epic poem Pan Tadeusz expressed Polish national aspirations
• Music composers drew on folk melodies and themes to create a distinctive national style
  • Bedřich Smetana's Má vlast (My Homeland) celebrated Czech history and landscapes
  • Jean Sibelius's Finlandia became a symbol of Finnish national identity
• Art Romantic painters depicted national landscapes, historical events, and folk customs
  • Caspar David Friedrich's landscapes evoked German national identity and spirituality
  • Eugène Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People commemorated the July Revolution of 1830 in France
• Architecture revival of medieval and vernacular styles as expressions of national identity
  • Gothic Revival in Britain and Germany
  • Moorish Revival in Spain and Portugal

Impact on Political Landscape

• Revolutions of 1848 nationalist uprisings across Europe challenged the political order established by the Congress of Vienna
  • Sought to create independent nation-states based on ethnic and linguistic boundaries
  • Suppressed by conservative forces but paved the way for future nationalist movements
• Unification of Italy (Risorgimento) and Germany in the 1860s and 1870s
  • Piedmont-Sardinia under King Victor Emmanuel II and Prime Minister Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, led the unification of Italy
  • Prussia under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck unified Germany through a series of wars and diplomatic maneuvers
• Collapse of multiethnic empires after World War I
  • Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian empires dissolved
  • New nation-states emerged based on the principle of self-determination (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland)
• Rise of fascism in the interwar period
  • Extreme form of nationalism that emphasized racial superiority and territorial expansion
  • Led to the outbreak of World War II and the Holocaust

Legacy and Modern Implications

• Self-determination remains a key principle in international law and politics
  • Decolonization movements in Africa and Asia after World War II
  • Breakup of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in the 1990s
• Ethnic conflicts and separatist movements continue to challenge the stability of multiethnic states
  • Basque and Catalan separatism in Spain
  • Kurdish nationalism in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria
• Debates over immigration and national identity in an era of globalization
  • Rise of populist and nationalist movements in Europe and the United States
  • Tensions between cultural diversity and assimilation
• Romantic ideas about the relationship between nature and national identity continue to shape environmental movements and policies
  • National parks and wilderness areas as symbols of national heritage
  • Ecological nationalism and the protection of biodiversity