TY - JOUR
T1 - The social and religious meaning of nationalism
T2 - The case of Prussian conservatism 1815-1871
AU - Avraham, Doron
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - From the 1830s, Prussian conservatives started to contemplate the meaning of nationalism and national identity. The continuous efforts of liberals to bring about German national unification according to modern criteria, and the constant change in the social and economic structures, required the definition of nationalism on an alternative basis. In order to address the severe difficulties faced by society and to avoid national unification based on revolutionary foundations, Prussian conservatives defined German national identity on the basis of particular social relations and order, and on a unique version of religious devotion and designation. At the same time, however, the conservatives did not assign any political importance to these national peculiarities and continued to adhere to the traditional pattern of state and political authority. Such a definition of national identity was considerably different from the later fascist and racist national ideologies. In this regard, the conservative version of nationalism, as developed until the last quarter of the nineteenth century, cannot act as a precursor to National Socialism, as some historians have argued.
AB - From the 1830s, Prussian conservatives started to contemplate the meaning of nationalism and national identity. The continuous efforts of liberals to bring about German national unification according to modern criteria, and the constant change in the social and economic structures, required the definition of nationalism on an alternative basis. In order to address the severe difficulties faced by society and to avoid national unification based on revolutionary foundations, Prussian conservatives defined German national identity on the basis of particular social relations and order, and on a unique version of religious devotion and designation. At the same time, however, the conservatives did not assign any political importance to these national peculiarities and continued to adhere to the traditional pattern of state and political authority. Such a definition of national identity was considerably different from the later fascist and racist national ideologies. In this regard, the conservative version of nationalism, as developed until the last quarter of the nineteenth century, cannot act as a precursor to National Socialism, as some historians have argued.
KW - German nationalism
KW - Prussian conservatism
KW - Religious identity
KW - Social relations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=60950288111&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0265691408094531
DO - 10.1177/0265691408094531
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AN - SCOPUS:60950288111
SN - 0265-6914
VL - 38
SP - 525
EP - 550
JO - European History Quarterly
JF - European History Quarterly
IS - 4
ER -