Nationalism in Russia

Context:
Reforms by Alexander II
1. Literary men allowed free travel to seek their support
Church and Aristocrats against Centralization
2. Abolishment of serfdom in 1861
3. Local government reforms
4. Abolishment of corporal punishment
5. Public education reforms
6. Military reforms

David Thomson: 2 types of nationalism

 Revolutionary: that demanded changes
 Separatist: that demanded separation

A. Revolutionary Nationalism
Led by intellectual and cultural movements
Intelligentsia: traders, professionals, university students, graduates
Classical education moved towards scientific and technical
The groups became impatient over backwardness

Musician and literature: Borodin and Tchaikovsky: travelled and attracted world interests in Russian
culture, rose feelings of pride and uplift
Novelist: Turgenev: Wrote over conditions of poor, distress, violence and concern for welfare of
people
Socialist journalism on rise like N.G.  Chernyshevsky: attacked Tsar’s policies
 “A wretched nation, a nation of slaves, from top to bottom—all slaves."- Chernyshevsky

Unlike German nationalism it was not militant and it was for human happiness and peace of mind,
wanted reforms and order
But overall it was a danger to the Russian Empire

B. Separatist Nationalism

I. Poland
Aroused sympathies
3 types of nationalist

a) Agricultural society of Poland

Formed for scientific farming but turned into national independence movement for lower
classes
b) Roman Catholic: anti-Russian stance
c) Professionals: supported Kossuth of Hungary and became anti-Russian
 Anthem, written in 1797 by Jozef Wybicki.
“Poland has not yet died,
As long as we live.
What foreign force has taken,
We will reconquer by the sword!”

Secret revolutionary committee, Poland had autonomy granted in 1815

II. Ukraine
Austria and Romanian frontiers
Church was the focus of nationalist feelings
1850s strong literary movement
1847 secret society of Saints Cyril and Methodius failed but nationalist movements had
created space and tolerance

III. Lithuania
Mostly Roman Catholics,
Affiliations with Polish nationalists
1880s: cultural and nationalist movements

IV. Finnish
Little issues till WW1.
Was annexed by Alexander I in 1809, was mostly loyal
 Nationalism in Austria
Context:
Almost 7 to 8 diverse groups in Austria. Most dominant:
Germans 23.9%
Czechs 12.6%
Hungarians 20.2%
Poles 10%
Other Regions of Austrian empire: Italy (Lombardy and Venetia

1. Magyars Nationalism:
Most spoken in Hungary, dominated by nobility and retained a strong political
consciousness
Wanted to replace both Latin and German by Magyar.
1827 reform diet: Magyar into all spheres of life, a new concept of nation
Publications in Magyar
Took advantage of Metternich downfall and announced reforms.
April Laws: step towards constitutional state
War of 1866, Austria defeat by Prussia, helped Magyars to achieve a “compromise”

2. Czechs
Formerly medieval kingdom of Bohemia
French Revolution motivated to find new identity
19th century: national identity on the basis of common language, demands in higher
education, unfulfilled till 1848.
1818 founded ‘patriotic museum’
March 1848 Programme for political, boycott German Assembly
Protests against Augleich of 1867
 Czech gymnastic organization: mobilized women
End of 19th century constituted a Czech social structure
1914 independent within the Monarchy

3. Slovaks
Northern Hungary
Inspired by Czech reformation
Nationalism emerged from language (Ludotov Stir: prominent role)
1848 revolution tried to mobilize support
Introduced language in school
“Frustration of national hopes is one of the basic features of Slovak history, and has done much to determine
the Slovak "national character," if one can speak of such a thing” Eugen Steiner

1939 Nazi destroyed Czechoslovakia, independent Slovak nation emerged allied to

Germany

4. Slovenes
 No common name
Reformation started on the name of Bible and religion
Illyrian Provinces created by Napoleon in 1809, under one admin.
Identity path after 1830:
Intellectuals rejected illyrism, revolution of 1848 to bring all Slovenes in one unit under
Habsburg
By 1867 middle class had developed but not strong enough for independent political
programme, couldn’t capitalize WW1.

5. Croatians
Their region was turned into a military border between Hapsburg and Ottoman
Empire.
Romantic patriots called for a nation on the basis of a single language, project failed.
1840s national party was formed, role in 1848 revolution
Demanded civil rights, national aims and unification with Dalmatia, abolishment of
military border
Economically underdeveloped
2 groups:
National Party: idea of south-Slavic cooperation
Historical Right: unification of all territories of medieval Croatian kingdom.
State was created by Hitler under a puppet government

6. Poles
Nobility nationalism
1846 Galician uprising proclaiming peasant emancipation
Austria freed peasants from landlord oppression and used it to keep Poles in check till
1867.

7. Romanians
Roman heritage
Political recognition in Habsburg Empire
Cultural works to nationalism in 18th century all over Balkans and Central Europe

8. German Confederation
Moved to Prussian leadership and away from Austria

9. Italy
Unification movements by Garibaldi, Mazzini, Cavour
Austrian out of Lombardy and finally out of Venetia