The Instigator
Nationalism is an idea that has been, and will continue to be an extremely influential factor of the Western World. A leader that believes in nationalism may seem to profit the nation, but due to certain factors that come along with it, mass conflict becomes a consistent reaction. Leaders that are nationalists have strongly impacted the Western World due to the mass conflict that is created.
Otto von Bismarck was one of these leaders that caused mass conflict. He was commonly recalled to as “The Iron Chancellor” for his brute force. If there is conflict he believed that“better pointed bullets than pointed speeches” (http://thinkexist.com). Bismarck, as demonstrating his view of nationalism while leading Prussia, engineered a series of wars that unified German states into a strong German Empire under Prussian leadership.
He initiated wars against Denmark, Austria, and France. This conflict is supported by the nation due to nationalism also leading to economic growth. When everybody is working for the country, it acquires substantial economic growth rates. This is a main factor as to why nationalism results in mass conflict, as the whole country supports the conflict.
Another nationalist that caused the lives of millions was Joseph Stalin. Stalin gave his life to his country to share Russian Pride. Willing to die for his country, Stalin shared a very strong belief in nationalism and devoted almost his whole life to it. Along with this, Stalin was an aggressive leader and stated that “Ideas are more powerful than guns” (http://www.writersbeat.com) To try and accelerate food production in Russia, Stalin ordered the collectivization of agriculture. “Stalin also set in motion rapid industrialization that initially achieved huge successes, but over time cost millions of lives and vast damage to the environment. Any resistance was met with swift and lethal response; millions of people were exiled to the labor camps of the Gulag or were executed” (http://www.biography.com). This proves how much conflict and destruction is caused by a nationalist as a leader.
Adolf Hitler led Germany as a fascist dictator, and is perfect proof as to how mass conflict is a result of nationalism. Hitler was a strong believer in nationalism, and was given the perfect opportunity to lead as a nationalist after the great depression. Due to nationalism having a positive effect on the economy, this was the start as to how Hitler gained the control he did. Not only was Hitler named chancellor, he was also the supreme commander of the armed forces. Along with the beliefs that Nazi’s shared came the mass genocide of Jews in the holocaust. From 1939-1945, Nazis and their associates were responsible for the deaths of 11 to 14 million people which involved about 6 million Jews. As if this wasn’t bad enough, Hitler's political acts had brought about a world war. His acts caused human suffering on an horrid scale and resulted in the death of an estimated 40 million people. As Hitler was able to gain the most power any other leader who shared the views of nationalism, he was also able to produce the most conflict, affecting almost the whole world. 
Nationalism, already causing large world issues in the past, will continue to be a problem due to financial issues being present in so many countries. In countries that have issues economically, the country more vulnerable to empowering a nationalist as a leader to benefit the country. Another example as to why nationalism will continue to impact today’s world is due to the idea of communism. A trait of a communist leadership is nationalism. This raises alarm since communism is still present in countries such as Russia and North Korea. This push that nationalism gives the economy also leads to an imperialistic view. With all this extra money in the state, the military becomes heavily funded and supported. Due to the amount of power that these leaders have in these countries, people are forced to join the army and don’t get to choose a decision. This then leaves the army with huge financial support, and almost unlimited soldiers.
This all clearly demonstrates that due to nationalism's economic gain leading to imperialism, nationalism always leads to mass conflict.
References
Prussian Map
Stalin Photo
North Korean Parade Photo
Otto von Bismarck Quotes. (n.d.). Quotes.net. Retrieved June 12, 2015, from http://www.quotes.net/quote/53811
Tim, W. (2010, June 16). 5 Joseph Stalin Quotes To Live (Or Die) By. Retrieved June 12, 2015, from http://www.writersbeat.com/showthread.php?t=22100
I think your blog was really interesting. I think you have great points and really do show the danger in nationalism, and its flaws. Really, I think the root of Nationalism is essentially pride, but that can result in both good and bad outcomes for a country. Although you say Nationalism always leads to mass conflict, I must say that I think that Nationalism in some ways does benefit countries. For one thing, we know that Nationalism is pride-specifically pride of country. This is belonging to a country, being apart of it, contributing to it, etc. In this, Nationalism brings a sense of movement and action for people. It inspires people to do something and work to make their lives and country a better place. I think of the French Revolution, and although completely chaotic-was a way to improve lives of the third estate in the long run. Thomas Paine also believed that change, is change no matter how brutal-as long as it accomplishes the goal. He also said, ““There exists in man a mass of sense lying in a dormant state, and which, unless something excites it to action, will descend with him, in that condition,to the grave.” (Rights of Man). I really believe that Paine is saying in this that people can be sparked to action to change things, and indirectly, I feel like he’s also saying nationalism can bring something out of people and make them care. When people care about their country it brings a sense of unity, and belonging which is a common desire in most of humanity. It makes people feel connected and part of a team. Modern examples of this would be sports, and how people show up for "their" teams and get excited and kind of outrageous. Or even Canada, how we're associated with being polite, the initiators of Hockey , home of Tim Hortons and provider of healthcare. There is pride for a lot of people, in saying "I am Canadian". In this, pride has brought a reason to care. People go in during elections and actually vote, people voice opinion and express freedom of speech. Nationalism sparks the essence of actually caring about what’s going on in your place of living-which isn't incredibly present today. If you care about your country, if you're proud of it, you aren't going to sit around and say so. You'll live life differently, and probably more actively. So I say, although Nationalism definitely has its flaws, I do think there is a positive effect it's had as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that in the past some leaders have taken their nationalistic views too far, but i also believe that nationalism can have a tremendous up-side for a nation. In your post, you say that nationalistic views have caused many problems in past and present world, but that is only due to the fact that a select few have taken their opinions to extremes. Nationalism, if done to a moderate extent, can have many benefits to a country. After WW1, Germany was left in a terrible financial situation, but Hitler employed a sense of nationalism in Germany which in-turn made men want to join the military because it was thought that it was their patriotic duty, and women joined factories to help with military efforts. This drive to support their nation lifted their economic depression and turned Germany into a super-power of the time. Proving that although there has been nationalism extremists, if done a controllable level, nationalism can have tremendous benefits to a nation.
ReplyDeleteIf done at a controllable level*
ReplyDeleteGreat examples, but I'd have to disagree that nationalism ALWAYS leads to conflict. Although it is hard to argue with figures like Stalin and Hitler, and extermination, there have been many nationalists who have improved their country. For example, John A. MacDonald brought Manitoba, British Colombia, and P.E.I. into confederation. He also played a prominent role in the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway. As well, he was behind the development of Canada's fist national park in Banff, Alberta. Another leader, Winston Churchill, is considered the greatest wartime leader of all time because of his contributions to Britain in World War 2 like obtaining the assistance of the U.S. and their manufacturing. Overall, I must respectfully disagree that nationalism always leads to conflict. Sometimes, yes, as you mentioned with Hitler and Stalin, but not always.
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with your thesis that Nationalism always leads to mass conflict. The examples you have explained with nationalistic leaders such as Stalin, Bismarck, and Hitler support this greatly. However, even though this thesis still is relevant to today's Western World your idea that "Nationalism, already causing large world issues in the past, will continue to be a problem due to financial issues being present in so many countries. In countries that have issues economically, the country more vulnerable to empowering a nationalist as a leader to benefit the country" is not accurate to the nationalistic countries there are today. For example, one of today's most nationalistic countries is The United States of America. America's GDP in 2014 was 16.77 trillion USD, this indicating that they are not a country of economic issues at all, but the opposite as being a nationalistic country most of their wealth is spent on war. In 2009 the US Military's budget was $680 billion. Americans are very patriotic of their country, and believe that fire arms and war is the best way to display this patriotism. But the USA does also support your thesis, that Nationalism leads to mass conflict, from the wars they have started because of their extreme patriotism. Because of the nationalistic views that most likely power their military, countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Syria have been confronted with mass conflict, and destruction of their homes do to wars that have been started by nationalistic leaders of the USA. Like how a past nationalistic leader such as Hitler was responsible for the mass conflict of genocide and a World War, along with the deaths of 40 million people, since the conflict in Iraq from 2003 until now, the USA is responsible for the deaths of over one million Iraqis. Besides the arguable idea that countries with economic issues are more likely to empower nationalistic leaders, your idea that nationalism always leads to mass conflict is accurate in both past Western World and present.
ReplyDeleteI agree that nationalism can definitely be dangerous. However I don't think that it is the only factor for causing wars/conflict and/or death. I don't even consider it a major reason. You stated that "Adolf Hitler led Germany as a fascist dictator, and is perfect proof as to how mass conflict is a result of nationalism." When looking Nazi Germany's root causes for their evil acts it was because the state of their nation. Sure nationalism played a part, however one could argue that if after WWI the world didn't push all the blame on Germany, then they wouldn't have had a reason to hate the rest of the world. Nationalism was born and formed because of the state of their nation. Germany's economy was terrible because of all the debt placed on them after taking the blame for WWI. Hitler saw the bigger picture and took advantage of the feelings of the German people, turning it into nationalism.
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