Enlightened nationalism
Subtitle: the transformation of Prussian political culture, 1806-1848
By: Matthew Levinger.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2000
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 317
Subjects: Political culture -- Germany -- Prussia -- History -- 19th century.; Nationalism -- Germany -- Prussia -- History -- 19th century.; Enlightenment -- Germany -- Prussia.; Prussia (Germany) -- Historiography.
Description: "Enlightened Nationalism provides the first synthesis in English of Prussian political culture from the Napoleonic era to the Revolution of 1848. Matthew Levinger challenges the conventional notion that Prussia lagged behind Western Europe in its political development, demonstrating that Prussian leaders embraced a distinctive program of political modernization in response to their country's defeat by Napoleon in 1806-1807. Building on the eighteenth-century tradition of enlightened absolutism, Prussian leaders attempted to unite a rationalized monarchy with a politically active "nation," thus mobilizing the populace to resist the French oppressors. The new culture of "enlightened nationalism" influenced the political theory and program of both liberals and conservatives in nineteenth-century Prussia."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-298) and index.