The Role Of Nationalism In Reshaping Nineteenth Century Europe

Despite the role of nationalism in reshaping Europe's politico-economic map beginning in the mid-1800s, the multifaceted influences that characterized its emergence as a major ideology must be approached on separate fronts. To engage a cogent analysis of the situation it is necessary to view nationalism's role from three major perspectives: a) Italian peninsula unification, b) Prussia's victory in unifying German lands, and c) the Ottoman Empire crisis in the Balkan peninsula. The widespread practice of prostitution among low-wages or out-of-work domestic women, seems a reflection and great unifier of Europe's financial difficulties in the “growing cities” (Sherman and Salisbury 572). Italian unification was no simple roadway.

Italian unification was of no well-planned harmonious intent, according to Davis. Characterized rather as “depths of divisions and conflicts,” and so nationalism came later behind the heels of a complex mix of socio-cultural and economic realities. Having lagged behind other industrializing European countries, Italy's grand politician Count Camillo Cavour failed to develop “an effective party system” (Davis 44). Socially and economically Italy's unification actually focused upon the elite class, states Davis, although it made room for growth to include the wider masses.

Prussia's victory in unifying German lands did see the survival of the working class struggle, and of course with Germanic cohesiveness came political and economic industrial expansion – and afterward a distribution of jobs like decorating or tailoring, according to the textbook. The Ottoman Empire in the Balkan peninsula brought forth a meeting of the minds as Serbia and Russia “joined forces against the Ottoman Empire” state Sherman and Salisbury (619). Nationalism overall drew people to join political groups, and gave a sense of social pride in organizations as well as cultivated trust in powerful figures of government. The belief was that the unified outlook could strengthen citizenry support.

Works Cited

Davis, John A. “Italian Unification.” History Today vol. 34 no. 11, 1984, p. 43. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Aug. 2013.

Sherman, Dennis, and Joyce E. Salisbury. The West in the World: A History of Western Civilization. 4th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.