HIST2086Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor

Basic political conceptions

after 1815

Lecture 4

14 September 2010

Basic Political Conceptions after 1815

• Conservatism

• Liberalism

• Risorgimento Nationalism

• Socialism

Conservatism (1)Conservare (Latin) = to preserve

• Political counter-currents to French Revolution

• Considered state, society, law, culture as organically growing institutions → not alterable by ideas, theories, constitutions

• Defended tradition + God-given order (the ‘alliance of throne and altar’): monarchy, churches, social structure, family, property

• Saw individuals as part of hierarchical community

Conservatism (2)

Has general tendency …

• To develop into ‘reaction’ = obstruction of any development

• To encapsulate privileged groups (nobility)

• To submit uncritically to authority, religious orthodoxy, intellectual + cultural sterility

= Supported by nobility, clergy, officialdom, landowners esp. in Austria + Prussia (‘Metternich system’)

Liberalism (1)

Rooted in Enlightenment + French Revolution striving for …

• Freedom of the individual, conscience, press, thought

• Equality before the law

• Constitutional state: separation of powers, state of laws to protect citizens

• Election of representatives to a parliament

• Free economy, occupation, trade, business activity, coalition, competition, movement

Liberalism (2)

Has general tendency …

• To anarchy (= absence of government)

• To dissolve public authority in favour of individual liberty

• To neglect developing complete systems of political thought

• To shift frequently party positions

Risorgimento Nationalism (1) (nation = people, Latin)

• Moderate nationalism / patriotism: = Risorgimento nationalism (risorgimento = revival) → Model: Italian nationalism of early 19th C.

• Inspired by French nationalism after 1789

• German unification movement up to 1870/71

• Greek freedom struggle ≠ Ottoman rule (1820s)

• Belgian freedom struggle ≠ Dutch rule (1830)

• Polish freedom struggle ≠ Russian rule (1830/31)

Risorgimento Nationalism (2)

• Protest + freedom movement 1815-1919 ≠ existing rule

• Demands liberty, equality, fraternity

• Strives for national independence

• Claims interdependence between political, economic, cultural (language/religious) factors

• Unifying (Italian, German) type• Secessionist (Greek, Czech, Finnish, Irish) type

Socialism (1)(Lat. Socius = companion)

• Synonymous with ‘Communism’ (Marx & Engels)

• Counter-movement to liberalism & capitalism

• Aims at just distribution of property, just social order, equal rights, well-being for subordinate classes (proletarians), universal peace, reconciliation of peoples

• Strives to achieve aims through social reforms, class struggle, revolution

Socialism (2)

• Communist Manifesto (1847) by Marx and Engels: Revolution + dictatorship of the proletariat + socialisation of means of production + final

stage → Communism

• Christian Socialism: Appealed to wealthy + educated to help ease misery of masses

• ‘Socialists of the Chair’ (liberal political economists):

Demanded state interference to solve social problems

• Labour movement: Trade unions, cooperatives, socialist parties

Basic Political Conceptions after 1815

• Conservatism

• Liberalism

• Risorgimento Nationalism

• Socialism