Question

"The idealistic liberal-democratic sentiment of nationalism in the first half of the nineteenth century became a narrow creed with limited ends". Examine the statement.

Answer 1

Nationalism in the first half of the nineteenth century was idealistic based on the policies of liberalism and democracy.But the concept of nationalism got a new dimension with narrow creed and limited ends.

The major European powers instigated among the subject people in Europe the feeling of national consciousness and mobilised them to further their own imperialist aims.The idea of developing societies into nation-states emerged as a universal and natural idea.There was opposition against colonial domination and ideas of freedom and independence emerged as a part of nationalism.