Folie 1

1
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
Introduction

• Key Questions
• How are nations, and a sense of national
  belonging, created?
• What are the politics of nationalism?

2
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
What Does Nation Mean?

• Medieval origins nationes as groups of
  university students that share a language
• Early Modern Times nationes as the politically
  ruling bodies (nobility of a state was its
  nation)
• Age of Revolutions (French Revolution) The
  entire people as the nation

3
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
Theories of Nation Building

• The nation as a biological entity a common
  origin
• Nations as constructed or imagined communities
• Ernest Renan A nation is a daily plebiscite
• Benedict Anderson Nations as Imagined
  Communities

4
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
How Nations Are Created

• The emergence of a public sphere and a common,
  vernacular language
• Creating and celebrating a common past
• Celebrating nature (as another commonality and
  home)
• National educational systems (Eugene Weber,
  Peasants into Frenchmen)

5
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
Nations and Nation States

• The integrative function of railway systems
• Common markets (important step in the unification
  of Germany in the 19th century) and national
  bureaucracies
• Political institutions every nations should have
  its own state (processes of national state
  building in Germany and Italy)

6
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
Warfare and the Nation

• Military training as a learning site of
  national belonging
• Solidarity within the nation in times of war
  individuals are expected to give their lives for
  the nation, but also expect the nation to take
  care of them and their families after the war
• Ideals of nation shaped during warfare (fighting
  community)

7
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
The Confusing Chronology of Nations

• Early Modern Origins National belonging through
  public spheres outside the state (in Germany,
  e.g.)
• The French Revolution and the constitution of the
  nation the rise of nationalism during the
  Napoleonic Wars
• National unification (Germany, Italy) and nation
  building (France) during the 19th century

8
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
The Politics of Nationalism

• Nationalism as leftist politics why?

9
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
The Politics of Nationalism

• Nationalism as leftist politics democratic
  impulse, against transnational (monarchic)
  Empires an International of nationalism
• Mid to late 19th century emergence of
  chauvinistic, exclusive and often anti-Semitic
  nationalism
• Nationalism versus working-class internationalism

10
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
Nationalism and Empires

• Early nationalists regarded empires as the
  anti-thesis of nations (Johann Gottfried Herder)
• Imperialist Nationalism Expansion for national
  survival (Lebensraum in Nazi Germany) mission to
  civilize in France
• Anti-colonial nationalism after both World Wars
  For national independence

11
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
Nationalism Today

• Is nationalism on the decline? The rise of
  transnational institutions (EU) and international
  corporations
• The persistence of nationalism (resistance
  against transnational institutions and
  corporations), and even a revival of nationalism
  after the collapse of the Soviet Union

12
Making of the Modern World Nations and
Nationalism
Nationalism Today (cont.)
How much has changed? Barack Obama after his
reelection in 2012 What makes America
exceptional are the bonds that hold together the
most diverse nation on earth. The belief that
our destiny is shared that this country only
works when we accept certain obligations to one
another and to future generations. The freedom
which so many Americans have fought for and died
for comes with with responsibilities as well as
rights. And among those are love and charity and
duty and patriotism. Thats what makes America
great. It doesnt matter who you are or where
you come from or what you like or where you love.
It doesnt matter whether youre black or white
or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young
or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or
straight, you can make it here in America if
youre willing to try.