Liberalism, Nationalism

1
Liberalism, Nationalism Unification of Italy
and Germany

• Chastised doctrine of liberty
• Benthan, Utilitarianism
• Mill, On Liberty
• Nationalism
• concept of the nation state
• Unification of Italy
• Massini
• Unification of Germany
• Bismarck
• New Imperialism
• Russia

2
Utilitarianism

• How to evaluate social institutions measure
  their utility (usefulness) to all
• Criterion should be the greatest good of the
  greatest number

3
John Stuart Mill, On Liberty (1859)

• The only purpose for which power can be
  rightfully exercised over any member of a
  civilized community, against his will, is to
  prevent harm to others.

4
Let us suppose, therefore, that the government
is entirely at one with the people, and never
thinks of exerting any power of coercion unless
in agreement with what it conceives to be their
voice. But I deny the right of the people to
exercise such coercion, either by themselves or
by their government. The power itself is
illegitimate.
5
Modern Nation State

• Nation people of shared heritage
• State territory
• Modern mass participation in government

6
Giuseppe Mazzini, Romantic Nationalism

• Work for the benefit of all, but the lone
  individual is powerless. The individual is too
  weak, and Humanity too vast.
• A country is a fellowship of free and equal
  men. The law must express the general
  aspiration, promote the good of all, respond to a
  beat of the nations heart.

7
Mazzini, On Nationality (1852)

• Nationality ought only to be to humanity that
  which the division of labor is in a workshopthe
  recognized symbol of association the assertion
  of the individuality of a human group called by
  its geographical position, its traditions, and
  its language, to fulfill a special function in
  the European work of civilization.

8
Unification of Germany
9
Otto von Bismarck

• Germany does not look to Prussias liberalism
  but to her power. Not by speeches and
  majorities will the great questions of the day be
  decidedthat was the mistake of 1848-1849but by
  blood.

10
Rudyard Kipling, White Mans Burden (1899)

• Take up the White Man's burden--Send forth
  the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exileTo
  serve your captives' needTo wait in heavy
  harness,On fluttered folk and wild--Your
  new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and
  half-child.