Nationalism and Imperialism
Nationalism is an important ideology in modernization as it depicts the political concepts, which build ties between different ethnic groups in a nation to create a sense of national identity (Li, 2014). On the other hand, imperialism refers to the direct or indirect introduction of foreign cultural, political, and economic patterns into a nation’s policy and its internal lifestyle (Okon & Ojakorotu, 2018). Imperialism is described as a phenomenon marked by ‘liberalism’s fall from Grace’ (Fitzpatrick, 2008). This concept will be discussed based on the conflicts in Germany and the United Kingdom in 1815-1914. The conflict picked for this essay are as follows.
In Germany:
• First Schleswig War (1858-1851) – A liberation/civil war between Germany and Denmark over Holstein and Schleswig’s Duchies.
• The Maji Maji Rebellion in German East Africa (1905-1907). A protest in German East Africa against the German rule by the local communities, which Occurred during the imperialism period in Africa (Larson, 2010).
In the United Kingdom:
• The first Opium War (1840-1842) – The war between China and the British Empire over trade restrictions put in place under Canton.
• The Crimean War (1853-1856) – The war between Russia and the alliance between Great Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire.
The First Schleswig War was characterized by a clash between the German and the Danish nationalism, which led to the Eider-Danes’ ideal. The impact of this war enhanced Germany’s consciousness and shaped the development of Germany’s nationalism. This war built a sense of civic, cultural, and ethnic nationalism in the German confederation (Ahlers, 2018). The battle facilitated the reorganization of Germany towards universal suffrage.
The First Schleswig War led to a change in German politics towards liberalization, emphasizing the aspect of sovereignty. This war also led to the development of a new European system. The Maji Maji Rebellion is a representation of intense brutality against rebellions in German East Africa.
This conflict significantly shook the German rule in the region. The Maji Maji Rebellion was a significant landmark in African imperialism as it raised the concern to conserve the local customs against foreign influence. This conflict facilitated the restructuring of the German rule to a more humanitarian approach through the selection of local representatives and the abolishment of forced labor. This, in turn, led to the re-organization of colonialism.
The Opium War was characterized by defeat to the Chines military, which set a new stage for the global economic system.
Great Britain secured trade treaties that were economically beneficial to both Chinese and British merchants. These treaties enhanced trade collaborations, and religious growth was enhanced.
From an ethical perspective, the first Opium War informed global respect for human rights since the treaties ensured respect for diplomatic rights. The Crimean War was characterized by noticeable diplomacy after the French defeat by Russians, which led to French resentment. The war was marked by a struggle for religious freedom since the parties supported their respective churches.
The Crimean war supported the ideology of most conflicts in the era since it was characterized by the struggle over territorial boundaries. The Crimean War facilitated the increase in the spirit of sovereignty among nation-states, which is a salient feature in modern society.
The guidelines from the section, “The Role of Historian as a Scholar and Citizen,” enhanced my understanding of the concept of nationalism from a historical perspective.
These guidelines facilitate a more direct connection between nationalism from a historical perspective the modern society. They also enhance a practical analysis of the process of development of modern democracies. This analysis improves our understanding of the process of development of the anarchical world systems.
