Nationalism versus Cosmopolitanism in German Thought and Culture 1789-1914. Essays on the Emergence of Europe

This collection of essays by scholars of international repute explores a particular polarity within 19th-century German thought: that of nationhood and European identity. Two factors were fundamental to the book’s conception: firstly, the recognition that perceptions of German nationhood have been a crucial factor within European consciousness since long before the existence of Germany as a unified State, and, secondly, an acknowledgement that bitter memories of the two World Wars of the 20 th century have sometimes obscured the record of Germany’s vast contribution to European cultural and intellectual history. Stereotypes drawn from such a legacy have fostered suspicion of German support for the idea of closer European integration and cooperation. For example, the evils of 20 th -century German nationalism are still frequently emphasized in the UK while comparatively little attention is given to the long historical tradition of German commitment to the idea of Europe as, essentially, cultural and political diversity-in-unity. At the beginning of the 21 st century, crucial tensions still characterize the dual consciousness of national and European identity. This volume seeks to promote understanding of the historical origins and development of such tensions as expressed in the work of some of the most significant writers, theorists, and artists of the 19 th century and across a broad spectrum of literature, music, philosophy, political criticism, art and architecture. The book also explores French and British reactions, both negative and positive, to German ideas of nationhood and European identity. As a history of ideas, it takes a multidisciplinary approach. Its unique contribution stems from this approach which maximises the variety and range of scholarship brought to bear on the topic and provides the reader with a broader intellectual and historical context than would otherwise be possible