Nationalism and the First Nationalism and the First World WarWorld War

Carolyn P. BoydCarolyn P. Boyd

Professor Emerita of HistoryProfessor Emerita of History

University of California IrvineUniversity of California Irvine

What is nationalism?What is nationalism?

Nationalism: two interpretationsNationalism: two interpretations““Constructed” vs. innateConstructed” vs. innate– Modern vs. primordialModern vs. primordial– The “nation” and nationalism: which comes The “nation” and nationalism: which comes

first?first?

““Civic” vs. “ethnocultural”Civic” vs. “ethnocultural”– Voluntary vs. involuntaryVoluntary vs. involuntary– Inclusion vs. exclusionInclusion vs. exclusion

What is nationalism?What is nationalism?

Political and social functions of nationalismPolitical and social functions of nationalism– Integration and control: political, economic Integration and control: political, economic

and socialand socialThe “imagined community”The “imagined community”

– Boundary maintenanceBoundary maintenanceWho is a citizen?Who is a citizen?

““Us” vs. “them”Us” vs. “them”

Nationalism and the origins of the Nationalism and the origins of the First World WarFirst World War

Development of the “nation-state” in 19Development of the “nation-state” in 19thth century Europecentury Europe– Economic integrationEconomic integration– Political and administrative centralizationPolitical and administrative centralization– DemocratizationDemocratization– Nationalization of the massesNationalization of the masses

Germany and Italy and the European Germany and Italy and the European balance of power balance of power

Europe in 1813Europe in 1813

Europe 1850Europe 1850

Europe 1871Europe 1871

Europe 1913Europe 1913

International conflict, Pre-1914International conflict, Pre-1914

Wars of national unificationWars of national unification

Imperial expansion and rivalriesImperial expansion and rivalries

Nationalist movements in old empires Nationalist movements in old empires (Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, (Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, British)British)

Nationalization of the masses, “jingoism”Nationalization of the masses, “jingoism”

Wars and Alliances Pre 1914Wars and Alliances Pre 1914

Wars, Conflicts, and Crises, 1859-1913

War of Italian Liberation, 1859Austro-Prussian War, 1866Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71Russo-Turkish War, 1875-78Fashoda, 1894Sino-Japanese War, 1895Spanish-American War, 1898Boer War, 1902Russo-Japanese War, 1904Moroccan Crises of 1905, 1911Balkan Crises and Wars, 1908-9, 1911-12, 1913

Imperial RivalriesImperial RivalriesColonial Empires 1914Colonial Empires 1914

Colonial Africa 1920Colonial Africa 1920

The Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire

Balkans 1912-13Balkans 1912-13

Ethnic Groups in the Austro-Ethnic Groups in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, 1910Hungarian Empire, 1910

The Search for Stability, 1871-1914The Search for Stability, 1871-1914

The Alliance System– Three Emperors’ League, 1872

(Germany, A-H, Russia)– Triple Alliance, 1882 (Germany, A-H, Italy)– Franco-Russian Dual Alliance, 1894– Entente Cordiale, 1904, 1907 (France,

Russia, Great Britain)

Military Alliances on the Eve of the Military Alliances on the Eve of the Great WarGreat War

Nationalization, militarism, and Nationalization, militarism, and militarization in Europe before 1914militarization in Europe before 1914

War or peace?War or peace?– Debates on ideological and economic groundsDebates on ideological and economic grounds– General F. von Bernhardi, General F. von Bernhardi, Germany and the Next WarGermany and the Next War

(1911)(1911)

Preparations for warPreparations for war– Expansion of armies and naviesExpansion of armies and navies– Universal conscriptionUniversal conscription– Erosion of civil supremacy (militarism)Erosion of civil supremacy (militarism)– Strategic doctrine: the triumph of the offensiveStrategic doctrine: the triumph of the offensive– Militarization of society and cultureMilitarization of society and culture

The Outbreak of War, 1914The Outbreak of War, 1914

The Third Balkan WarThe Third Balkan War

The weakness of Austria-HungaryThe weakness of Austria-Hungary

The imperatives of military planning and The imperatives of military planning and the alliance systemthe alliance system

Popular enthusiasm for warPopular enthusiasm for war

Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand

Gavrilo PrincipGavrilo Princip

Nationalism and the War EffortNationalism and the War Effort

Mobilization of soldiers and civilians (the Mobilization of soldiers and civilians (the “home front”)“home front”)

Justifying the sacrifices of warJustifying the sacrifices of war– Defense of the “homeland”Defense of the “homeland”– Demonization of the enemyDemonization of the enemy

Nationalism and mobilizationNationalism and mobilization

Nationalism and mobilizationNationalism and mobilization

Patriotic idealization of the Patriotic idealization of the “homeland”“homeland”

Patriotic idealization of the Patriotic idealization of the homelandhomeland

Patriotic idealizationPatriotic idealization

““Us vs. them:” Demonization of the Us vs. them:” Demonization of the enemyenemy

““Us vs. them:” Demonization of the Us vs. them:” Demonization of the enemyenemy

Nationalism and the Post-War Nationalism and the Post-War SettlementSettlement

Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen PointsWoodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points

The Peace of Paris and the “Twenty Year The Peace of Paris and the “Twenty Year Truce”Truce”

Wilson’s Fourteen PointsWilson’s Fourteen Points-Synopsis-Synopsis

1. Open covenants, openly 1. Open covenants, openly arrived atarrived at2. Freedom of the seas2. Freedom of the seas3. Free trade3. Free trade4. Arms reduction consistent with 4. Arms reduction consistent with domestic securitydomestic security5. Adjustment of colonial claims, 5. Adjustment of colonial claims, taking into account interests of the taking into account interests of the populations concernedpopulations concerned6. Evacuation of Russian territory; 6. Evacuation of Russian territory; independent determination of its independent determination of its own political developmentown political development7. Evacuation of Belgium and 7. Evacuation of Belgium and restoration of its sovereigntyrestoration of its sovereignty

8. Evacuation of French territory 8. Evacuation of French territory and restoration of Alsace-Lorraineand restoration of Alsace-Lorraine9. Readjustment of Italian 9. Readjustment of Italian frontiers along lines of nationalityfrontiers along lines of nationality10. Autonomous development of 10. Autonomous development of peoples of Austria-Hungary; peoples of Austria-Hungary; preservation of Empirepreservation of Empire11. International settlement of 11. International settlement of Balkan conflicts; Serbian access Balkan conflicts; Serbian access to seato sea12. Autonomous development of 12. Autonomous development of peoples under Turkish rule; free peoples under Turkish rule; free passage through Dardanellespassage through Dardanelles13. Independent Polish state, with 13. Independent Polish state, with access to seaaccess to sea14. League of Nations14. League of Nations