Introduction
Nationalism was coined from the French revolution of 18th century. The notion of “nation-state” is taken as a root of fight toward nationalism by most countries (Chawla 2).
Actually, the ideology of nationalism is perhaps entrenched to the elite class of a territory, who were against the traditional beliefs and cultures. The elite’ publications were much spread within a certain territory of ethnic, racism and boundaries, demanding nation-statehood and independence.
Many of nationalists were developed by many territories within 19th and 20th centuries. In Europe, nation making was first proclaimed in 19th century but nations were created in the 20th century (Chawla 3).
Another critical “nation-statehood making” is the break of the Soviet Union and the end of cold war between Soviet Union republic and the United States. Similarly, after the first and second world war many countries and continents adopted the notion of “making nation” and fought for independence.
In Africa continent, countries fought for de-colonialism and independence to make independent nations. Other countries like United States and Soviet Union utilized these events to claim their democracy and the super prowess of a nation.
This paper will focus on the nationalism ideology based on the Europe revolutionary, collapse of Soviet Union, decolonization and the end of World War II. As a conclusion, the paper will argue on the contribution of these historical events towards acting as unification or dividing force during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Revolutionary Europe
Nationalism opened up in Europe after the 1848 revolution. Creation of Germany and Italy states became the most vital contribution towards nation-statehood making.
Nationalism gained momentum in the Europe revolution when Italy and Germany focused to create empire economic and political nation that could create bigger markets for businesses.
Similarly, French post-revolution counter act towards foreign threat made yet a new cause of nationalism rising. Europe revolution in the year 1848 contributed heavily to the nationalism making ideology especially in Hungary and Italy.
Actually, the European system nationalism is entrenched to the educated ideology and not the masses of people as in Decolonization.
Europe Revolutionary and nationalism can be drawn from birth of Italy and the unification of Germany (Chawla 8). Creation of Italy began in the year 1860.
According to Chawla, pg 8 most states of Italy were governed by piedmont and premier Camilla Cavour. Early 19th century Italy was a playground of the France and Australia who were believed as the then great powers.
Napoleon was the key figure in Europe revolution and acted as pillar to unify Italy and weaken powers of Australia.
Some leaders argued that, country’s masses especially peasants believed in saints, the Virgin Mary, the pope and bourbon king. These leaders fought for radical democracy, secular and the socialism within their territory.
Leaders such as Garibaldi in Italy strongly campaigned for nationalism that would unify the country economic and political prospects. Italy being among the oldest countries with culture of elites who advocated for geographic expression and national language enabled its nationalism development.
In Germany, assembly of Vienna created Germany union in 1815 to contain France. The history of nationalism in Germany sprout due to the union of many Germany states and resulted to imbalanced political power (Chawla10).
Germany Bismarck’s program, to unite Germany during Europe revolution gained momentum by fighting Austria influence from Germany territories and federation.
Further, Hungary autonomy was gained in 1867 when there was a formation of Hungary-Austria confederation. The revolution in Germany and Italy mark nationalism as element towards unification.
Power politics were the driving force towards nationalism unification in most countries during and after the European revolution. In this respect, nationalism is tied to the wide diversification of democratic, political ideas and growth of the elite middle class (Chawla11).
During European revolution era, elite wanted to plan how territories were to be governed, end empire rule, and make people be loyal to their nations.
Collapse of the Soviet Union
Nationalism is considered today as the major blow to the collapse of soviets union. Soviet Union’s collapse of communism is generally argued by scholars, that nationalism played only a minor role.
Indeed, nationalism beliefs on power politics, economic capitalistic and democracy are prime factors to the collapse of Soviet Union (Beissinger 333). Actually, nationalism was marginalized motivation towards collapse Soviet Union and decision-making.
Soviet Union collapsed due to the end of cold war against United States. Soviet Union was not in a position to cope with military spending fight with United States.
The union economic position was worsened by the military spending and this lead to its collapse. In most of historians publications nationalism is regarded as the consequence of communism end that is, first phase after disintegration of socialist empires (Beissinger 331).
Collapse of the union is particularly attached to the political stands of million of people across communism territories and the influence of United States. During 20th century, institutions across Soviet Union politicized nationalism calling for economic recovery and disregarding nationalism.
Precisely, nationalism acts as a primary underlying factor in the collapse of Soviet Union. The process of “nation making” preferably nationalism, spread in two contextual approaches, the multinational and international controls (Beissinger 335).
In this regard, communism demise is significantly contributed by the making of sovereignties of communist style leadership and this lead to nationalism.
Nationalism political influence and liberation became critical institutional conditions that made and followed the collapse of Soviet Union. Beissinger, 336 notes that, the issue that effectively mobilized and motivated population in Soviet Union during the collapse, revolved around the elite idea of nationalism.
Thus, Soviet Union’s communism collapse needs to explicate the role of nationalism rather that treating it as consequence of demise (Beissinger 346).
Decolonization
Decolonization refers to the situation where countries under colonialism rule dismantled Neo-imperial realm from their home country (Anon 1). Most countries in Asia and in Africa were under colonial leadership.
Usually, western European dominated in national and international politics, culture, economics in Africa and Asia in the 20th century (Sueur 240). The colonial rule forced all civilization to reappraise colonial country’s way of life, conventions and traditions.
Solidarity existed between the western American educated middle groups who entered Africa and Asia forming their political parties with nationalist opinions. In most of the colonialized countries, the masses relied on their native beliefs and democratic political institutions of their colonies.
The colonial leadership particularly dominated by western European countries was disaggregated immediately after the World War II (Sueur 240). World War II became the turning point of colonialism and prompted for decolonization. The vital objective of countries fighting for independence in decolonization era was making nations. Nationalisms are thus the consequence of decolonization in most of Africa and Asian countries.
World War II
Second World War was the biggest and most atrocious armed fight across the world in human olden times. This war is said to be the greatest war that probably opened way for democratized political power.
The war compelled western countries to develop policies and plans to support state interest in security, political power and economy. After the World War II, many universal ideas were spread regarding importance of socialism in nationalist revolution.
This spread of communism to many countries, made United States to start a cold war over the Soviet Union via international economic and political reforms policies.
Most important decolonization era asserted itself primarily after the end of World War II. After the second war, colonization increased in Africa and in Asia. End of the Second World War made African societies to show their dissatisfaction and resistance towards western colonial divide of regions into small colonies (Sueur 242).
World War II left Japan and Germany defeated, making Soviet Union win, and leaving United States as the strongest powerful military and economy. This increased democracy and political powers leading to modern nationalization.
Conclusion
Nationalism is economic and political creed founded by cohesive modern educated middle class in many countries. Nationalization is seen as loyalty of people, towards natural forms of economic and political institution and as historic development of people’s organization.
Usually, the term is based on social structure in midst of intellectual convections and beliefs, possessing cultural history asserted in a geographical territorial. Nationalism is believed to originate from the European revolution in 18th century. The ideology was spread over by the end of first and second world wars.
Events such as collapse of Soviet Union, decolonization, World War II and Europe revolutionary acts as foundation of national political communities marked with the spirit of nationalism. In this regard, nationalization has developed as a unifying force through 19th and 20th centuries.
Works Cited
Anon. Decolonization and the Decline of the European World Order. nd. Web.
Beissinger, Mark. “Nationalism and the Collapse of Soviet Communism Contemporary European History.” Cambridge University Press. 2009. Web.
Chawla, Sandeep. Nationalism. Jani Moliis.HIST 2220. nd. Web.
Sueur, James. The Decolonization Reader. London: Routledge. 2003. Print.