In Europe, the 19th century represented a period of markedly large changes within the socioeconomic and sociopolitical framework of European countries. However, among the most noticeable trends observed in the target setting on the specified time slot, the propensity toward nationalism developing across Europe represents the most peculiar change. Due to the secular nature of the specified change compared to the previous European history of nationalist trends, the described phenomenon launched a series of sociocultural alterations based on rational interpretations of liberty.
Though sharing certain characteristics across countries, European nationalism manifested itself quite differently in specific geopolitical contexts. Specifically, in Germany, the specified phenomenon created the basis for the further rise of the power of the working class, or the proletariat (Motadel 78). The outlined change created premises for the emergence of Marxism as one of the essential branches of Socialism (Hough 2). Therefore, the foundation for revolutionary movements was created in the specified context.
Similarly, in France, the focus on liberalism continued to expand and invite members of the working class to participate in the sociopolitical changes within the French community. Though the specified shift in the power balance within society was not as distinctive and immediate as in Germany, the trend toward a societal shift and the effort to address the issue of classism were evident in both cases. Admittedly, other unique traits of the specified sociopolitical and sociocultural environments defined the development of nationalist principles and the further differences in the outcomes. Specifically, the French interpretation of the subject matter caused reinforcement of the army and the development of the country’s military potential (Soroka and Krawatzek 165). The specified outcome stands in a rather sharp contrast to Germany, where social changes were the primary outcome of the observed phenomenon (Tanrıverdi 609). Therefore, the cultural contexts of Germany and France represented the settings where the principles of nationalism could evolve to produce unique outcomes.
Furthermore, the outlined example illustrates the presence of both continuity and change in European nationalism. Specifically, the dominant concept of proletariat fighting against class oppression and rising to power was central in all instances of European nationalism, therefore, representing continuity within the process of alterations on the European political arena. Simultaneously, change could be seen in all reiterations of nationalist movements within the European setting as each country developed a unique stance on the issue of nationalism (Liu and Khan 3). Specifically, while some states focused on the active promotion of civil liberties for members of the lower class, others reinforced their military structure, and some considered opportunities for further economic empowerment (Casaglia et al. 2). Nonetheless, the trend toward nationalism as the resurgence of national identity development was prominent in Europe on the specified time slot, indicating the need for a shift in political power and approach to socioeconomic and sociopolitical interactions.
Since the 18th century nationalist tendencies occurring in Europe were characterized primarily by their secular nature, they evoked a range of sociocultural shifts within Europe as a direct effect of injecting rationality into the analysis of liberty. As a result, the overall shift in the sociopolitical and the associated sociocultural changes caused a vast revolutionary wave across Europe, with the needs of the working class being prioritized. The specified permutations of sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural relationships within Europe created premises for the further shifts in state politics in each country individually.
Works Cited
Casaglia, Anna, et al. “Interventions on European Nationalist Populism and Bordering in Time of Emergencies.” Political Geography, vol. 82, 2020, pp.1-10.
Hough, Peter. “Back to the Future: Environmental Security in Nineteenth Century Global Politics.” Global Security: Health, Science and Policy, vol. 4, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-13.
Liu, James H., and Sammyh S. Khan. “Implications of a Psychological Approach to Collective Remembering: Social Representations as Cultural Ground for Interpreting Survey and Experimental Results.” Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, vol. 15, 2021, pp. 1-11.
Motadel, David. “Nationalist Internationalism in the Modern Age.” Contemporary European History, vol. 28, no.1, 2019, pp. 77-81.
Soroka, George, and Félix Krawatzek. “Nationalism, Democracy, and Memory Laws.” Journal of Democracy, vol. 30, no. 2, 2019, pp. 157-171.
Tanrıverdi, Ezgi. “The Phenomenon of Nationalism in Nation-State.” Journal of Human Sciences, vol. 19, no. 4, 2022, pp. 605-612.