In the second source, it portrays the “Peace in our Time” speech during the Munich Accord in September 1938, where a cheering crowded gathering in support of this highly anticipated event that would potentially peacefully resolve a heated difference between the countries and ensure a peace would result. The source evidently regarded the event as a milestone of a diplomatic crisis where the nation of France, Germany, Britain and Italy cooperated according to collective value in maintain peace in world, decided that the best course of action in fulfilling the nation interest of public safety and security is through appeasement. In addition, the source has also illustrated the strong collective belief of the people of Britain in regards to how appeasement is the only measure to ensure national security and peace. The people cheered as Neville chamberlain announced the Munich Accord, which is the solution to peace for Britain and the entire Europe with Germany. It is symbolic of the desire of the people of Britain and Europe never to go to war with Germany again like during World War I. As such, it is supportive of nationalism in principle by illustrating that the decisions a nation makes is intended to expresses the soul of the people. When people wanted peace again in Europe, Germany, Britain, France, and Italy recognised no other duty than that of advancing its interests, where the settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem, which has now been achieved, brought peace to Europe. Specifically, the case of Munich Accord illustrated civic nationalism where the foreign and diplomatic action of the four-power represented the general will of the people. Evidently, the people in the background seemed delighted to Chamberlain’s speech of “Peace in our Time”. The photographer portrayed such an event as a victory for the people of Europe and an event to be embraced by many. Despite such, the source can also be a rejection of nationalism for that it reflected a denial of Czech’s right to self-determination and sovereignty. The fate of Czechoslovakiaès sudetenland is decided upon the Èfour major powersÈ without the consultation of the country for which the agreement will significantly impact. This reflected how ultranationalist perspectives have taken control of foreign affairs as the four nations believed in their superiority over the Czechoslovakia. In conclusion, the Munich Accord is simply an appeasement that is believed by the four power nations to be the best solution in bringing peace and the best measure in fulfilling their own national interest.
In Source 3, which is a British news paper report, portrays the declare of war against Germany by the Great Britain and France at the 11 am of September 3, 1939 as a measure in serving the national interest of maintaining national security and protection of its citizens within the country. Decisively, Britain announced its measure in confronting the German hostile military power that attempts to threaten Britainès way of life and its security. The paper clearly demonstrated the collective belief of the British people that this war is about fighting against the blackest tyranny that has ever held men in bondage. That they have waged this war out of a goal of defending and restore freedom and justice on earth. As such, it illustrates that the author’s perspective is positive of the decision to wage war against Germany. Evidently, we see a sense of nationalism arise chiefly as Britain feels itself threatened in regard to its own character by the German force. Each and every word on the news rally support from the citizens for the war waged against Germany. The source is supportive of nationalism where the people of Britain as a collective identifying themselves with the Great Britain as a nation hood recognising the duty of protecting the country’s security and safety from Germans. This is shown by the statement within the news calling all British citizen’s for support in a war against the Germans “ We fight to defend, and to restore, freedom and justice on earth.” In addition, it has also illustrated how such measure is a mean to protect the people of Britainès belief and value in sovereignty and freedom, and a protection of Britainès ways of life, traditions, and languages of their citizens. This is evidently portrayed by how the news appeal to peopleès fears of their ways of life being oppressed if Germans were to invade Britain, Èwe now fight against the blackest tyranny that has ever held men in bondageÈ All in all,
All three sources address the issue of devoting to prosperity within a nation and the priority that people take in achieving the national interest. Stalin’s collectivism, the Munich Accord Pace, and Britain’s declare of war are all an effort by a nation to fulfill the nation’s national interest. Source 2 and source 3 both addressed the need and people’s collective desire for peace and security with the nation. Source 2 evidently promotes ÈpeaceÈ, which is similar to the promotion Èto defend, and to restore, freedom and justice on earthÈ as proposed by source 3. However, different from source 2 and 3, source 1 rather addresses the importance of economic prosperity as in the foremost priority in the people’s interest. Interestingly, the information in source 2 refutes that of source 3 in that source 2 suggests that appeasement was in the best interest of the nation to achieve peace, while source 3 suggests that war is the solution to peace and security. In addition, source 2 and 3 are more focused on the foreign policies of a nation, where as source 1 prioritize the domestic policy. In conclusion, all three sources suggest the measure a nation takes to fulfill its national interest, however each portraying the individual distinctive methods of fulfilling these national interests.
