Honors Thesis Archive
| Author | Clayton E Marsh |
|---|---|
| Title | Germany And Russia: A Tale Of Two Identities: The Development of National Consciousness in the Napoleonic Era |
| Department | German |
| Advisors | Timothy Bennett, Lila Zaharkov, and Christian Raffensperger |
| Year | 2019 |
| Honors | University Honors |
| Full Text | View Thesis (417 KB) |
| Abstract | In understanding the causes of the concurrent development of national identity in Germany and Russia in the early 19th century, how can we better comprehend this development and its effect on our perception of national identity, nationalism, and national self-consciousness in the post-modern era? National political identity is a term often used to describe the codification of the cultural ethos, colloquial narrative, and collective vision of a people living within, but not exclusive to, a particular geographic sphere. Understanding this definition of national political identity and its role in the social construct of the modern “nation-state” is vital in gaining a deeper understanding of both the peoples and polities that have governed the modern age, and continue to direct its course. Moreover, comprehending the ideological origins of such national political identities, and the historical continuum upon which they waned or thrived, are of paramount importance to any serious study of post-modern society. One extraordinary example is the concurrent development of nationalism in both Germany and Russia within the early 19th century. While it may appear to have evolved internally and without external influence, the sociopolitical discourse regarding national self-identification within both Germany and Russia was consistently dominated by the persistent effects of Napoleon's France; likewise, the similarities and differences regarding religious, linguistic, and political national prerequisites between the German and Russian national consciousness provide pivotal insight into the cultural context of a national political disposition. |
Return to Main Honors Thesis Archive Page
Back