Extent of key political ideas in directly influencing change and development .

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Arguably, the rise of nationalistic tendencies did not directly influence change and development, as unification was always likely to occur for reasons other than that of the growth of nationalism. Economic necessity made the need for Unification much more desirable and as Keynes is reputed to have said "German unity was more truly built on coal and iron than on blood and iron". Therefore, one might argue that the key to German Unification was not the growth of nationalism in the country but the development of an integrated economy. Prussia achieved this in Germany through the introduction of the Zollverein in 1834. The Zollverein helped to unify the economies of north and central Germany, as it standardised both currency and the system of weights throughout its member states. Whilst, the Zollverein also became a focal point for national feeling, and when in 1844 it signed a favourable trade treaty with Belgium, it could be said to be speaking for the major part of the Confederation in international economic affairs.
It could also be argued that the unification of Italy by France in 1859 shaped not only the timing but also the nature of German Unification as it revived fears of napoleonic armies crossing the Rhine. Therefore provoking the mobilisation of 250,000 men in various German states under the authority of the Diet, as well as an outburst of patriotic feeling across Germany. Thus, German Unification was characterised not only by a growth in Nationalist sentiment but by the victory of Prussia over Austria, and by the triumph of authoritarian and military over Liberal and Parliamentary rule. It could be argued that the unification of Italy was not directly influenced by Nationalism and was only accomplished due to a benign international situation. The United Kingdom was overwhelmingly in support of Unification, as public support found the idea of a constitutional state struggling to secure national independence irresistible whilst the politicians believed that a stronger Italy would act as a counter-weight to Napoleon III's ambitions in Europe. Prussia pronounced herself neutral to Piedmont. Whilst, Russia still suffering from the humiliating defeat of the Black Sea was only too willing to sign a treaty with Napoleon III safeguarding her benevolence.
Clearly, unification would not have occurred in either Germany or Italy without the use of propaganda and the roles played by key personalities such as Bismarck in Germany and Cavour in Italy. Yet, neither of these key personalities claimed to be a nationalist, Bismarck was simply a Prussian Nationalist and saw the unification of Germany as a way of establishing himself as a key power, whilst Cavour in Italy originally neither had intent nor desire for the complete unification of Italy, he simply wanted an extension of Piedmonteste Laws and Customs across Italy.
Therefore, it could be said that the unification of Italy was more directly influenced by the rise of nationalism than the unification of Germany. However, it was other factors such as economic necessity that made the nationalist's dream of a politically unified Italy and Germany a reality. Therefore, it could be argued that Nationalism was a product of unification rather than a direct influence, as Bismarck in Germany exploited the Franco-Prussian of 1870 war to create a situation in which a national identity and hence nationalistic tendencies could be created. To conclude: to an extent nationalism influenced unification in the sense that it made the idea conceivable, but it was other factors such as economic necessity that led to the actual unification's.
It could certainly be argued that, the growth of Nationalism fostered the rise of Dictatorships akin to the ideals of fascism and Nazism, for it encouraged the growth of extremism. Indeed Nationalism and Fascism are both well suited to mobilising mass support for illiberal ends, because they diverted popular energies from demands of reforms and structural change.
Fascism developed from the destruction caused by the First World War, but, its origins lie in the intellectual revolt against liberalism in Europe at the end of the nineteenth century on the part of those who rejected the humanism of the Enlightenment and the "ideas of 1789". Yet while there was a revolutionary reaction against the ideals of the French Revolution before 1914, it was the First World War which was the real catalyst for the emergence of fascism. Thus, fascism was the most extreme reaction to this post-war political, social and national crisis. It was a movement which was opposed to the "decadence" of existing politics and aimed to create a so-called "new order" based on the idea of national "rebirth" and renewal which was so strong in Nazi ideology, thus leading to the appeal of the ideology.
Ideologically, Fascists were against liberal democracy and believed in some form of dictatorship. They stressed not reason but emotion and one of their strongest emotions was the insistence on the special identity of nations. Furthermore, Fascists insisted on the importance of the leader, the heroic man of destiny who mystically embodied the nation and had the task of rectifying national wrongs, which could range from territorial to economic grievances. Therefore, it could be said that such ideas made the rise of Hitler and Mussolini inevitable

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Many factors, least not the appeal of Fascism itself contributed to Mussolini's rise to power after WW1. Communism, was clearly important, even thought the challenge from the left was effectively weak with short- lived ineffectual strikes. But it is hard to envisage Mussolini's success without it.
Similarly important was the sense of aggrieved nationalism in Italy, which Mussolini insisted he alone could redress. Thirdly, the economic problems of the Italian State were of major importance. Not only were inflation and unemployment, problems in themselves, but they exacerbated Italian's perceptions of the communist threat. Thus all of these factors emphasised ...

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