Sample Material of Our IAS Mains GS Online Coaching Programme
Subject: General Studies (Paper 1 - Indian Heritage and Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society)
Topic: History Of World (Part-1)
HISTORY OF WORLD (Part-1)
Nationalism in the Nineteenth Century
The term ‘nationalism’ comes from the word nation. It means people having emotional and psychological attachment towards a region or territory. There are other traits that develop with this attachment, namely, common ancestry, culture, history and ethnicity. The nation state is one where people cherish the values of togetherness.
Nationalism represents the spirit of unity among people. Political, cultural, and emotional integrity together make a nation strong. National feelings rise when a nation is threatened by foreign invasion or serious internal troubles. People’s unity is tested at the time of dangers, both external and internal. For example, the heroic act of Joan of Arc to save her country, France, aroused national feelings. Alan Bullock, a British historian, says that nationalism represents “feeling of belonging to a group united by common racial, linguistic and historical ties, and usually identified with a particular territory”. British philosopher, Roger Scruton, explains the concept of nationalism as “a sentiment and ideology of attachment to a nation and its interests”. From a traditional perspective, nationalism is identified with spiritual character. Eminent historian C.J.H Hayes goes to the extent of classifying nationalism into six categories, namely, humanitarian, Jacobin, traditional, liberal, integral and economic. Nationalism had its origin during the birth of Israel i.e. when Moses asked his followers to go to the ‘Promised Land’. Greek philosophers like Socrates also made reference to the rise of nationalism among the Athenians and the Spartans. During the time of the Roman Empire, the Roman citizens spoke about their empire with a sense of pride.,In modern times, nationalism came to the fore during monarchical tyranny. For example, the English and the French overthrew their tyrannical rulers in the 1648 and the 1789 revolutions respectively. C.J.H. Hayes referred to the French Revolution of 1789 as an outcome of Jacobin Nationalism. Napoleon’s victories in Europe gave the French a sense of national pride.
The countries defeated by Napoleon felt humiliated. For instance, Napoleon’s ill-treatment of the Prussians, Pope, Spaniards, Italians and Russians rebounded on him in course of time. They all conspired with Britain to bring about his downfall in the final Battle of Waterloo. They had all suffered from Napoleon’s oppressive rule. It is no exaggeration to say that Napoleon, by his conquests, roused feelings of nationalism. Egoistic and greedy, Napoleon “reversed the aims and principles of the movement from which he sprang”. He invaded countries which were under despotic rule, and assumed the role of a saviour. But he turned out to be the worst dictator. He conquered the Papal States and carried away priceless treasures and work of art. After freeing small kingdoms of Italy from their oppressive rulers, he imposed his despotism on them. His conquest of Italy, followed by the appointment of his incompetent brother as its governor, proved to be his great undoing. Therefore, Napoleon no longer represented the objectives and principles of the French Revolution of 1789.