Chauvinism, Internationalism, and the Industrial Revolution

Submitted by Robert (United States), Sep 21, 2019 at 15:22

The scholarly and modern study of Nationalism was initially commenced by CARLTON J. H. HAYES, a professor at Columbia University (USA). From it, and other source, I distinguish between Nationalism and Chauvinism. Chauvinism is essentially exaggerated Nationalism well illustrated by NAZI Germany under Hitler. Nationalism also need to be distinguished from Internationalism which is exemplified by the League of Nations and its successor the United Nations. Its roots are Europe's Concerts and Congresses preceding WWI.

Europe is the source of these notions because the Industrial Revolution began in the United Kingdom and quickly spread to the rest of Europe and the Anglophone nations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Hong Kong, etc.

Being a European phenomena that infiltrated European statecraft, the roots are also tractable to the Bible and to the Jews and Christians that read the transition in which the Jews get David as their King like the other imperial powers surrounding the Jews at the time, replacing the 12 tribal nature of the Jews of the time as narrated in the Old Testament.

As Karl Marx observed, the Steam Engine played a crucial and defining role in changing Europe from a Feudal society and civilization into something new that was called by the middle of the 19th century Capitalism.

Although subsequent Marxist studied the State particularly in Germany which at the time only had the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, what emerged thereafter were the Countries that jointed the League of Nations and later the UN Soverign States.

The book reviewed here is only partially correct as it appears a-historical to the extent that it ignores the seminal and pioneering work of Prof. Hayes. For example, the National Language of a People is a natural unify-er. But it is the Railroad and the Printing Press (Books and Newspapers) which lead to a Nation-State (& Country). In the case of the Jews (Israel) we see an unspoken (dead) language (Hebrew) revived. And a Nation-State (Country) restored (Israel) after the Extermination of 6,000,000 Jews in Europe by Nazi Germany. There is a gap here (1945-1948).

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