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Germany and Russia: a Tale of Two Identities

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Germany and Russia: a Tale of Two Identities GERMANY AND RUSSIA: A TALE OF TWO IDENTITIES The Development of National Consciousness in the Napoleonic Era Written by: Clayton E. Marsh Wittenberg University Class of 2019 HONR 499-1W: “Honors Thesis” Thesis Advisor: Dr. Timothy A. Bennett Second Reader: Dr. Lila W. Zaharkov Third Reader: Dr. Christian A. Raffensperger Submitted on: 04/09/2019 Defended on: 04/15/2019 Revised and resubmitted on: 05/02/2019 Page 2 of 50 Contents Thesis Question and Abstract…........................................................................................................... 3 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 4 I. Understanding the “We” and “They:” Cultural and National Identity …............................. 5 II. A Tale of Two Identities: Germany and Russia …................................................................. 7 III. Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Invocation of Nationalism Within the West …............... 8 IV. Fichte and the Primary Struggle for the German Language, Reformed Education, and National Religious Fervor …................................................................................................... 12 V. Hegel: “Right” as Law and the Actualization of the Individual …......................................... 15 VI. Henrick von Sybel: The Division of North and South, and the Projection of National Unity Amid the Dueling Austrian-Prussian Hegemonies …................................................... 17 VII. Pestel, Karamzin, and the Ideal of Naradnost’ [народность] …............................................ 22 VIII. The Slavophiles, and the Idea of Eurasianism ….................................................................... 26 IX. Raeff: The Decembrists, and Vision for Westernization ….................................................... 29 X. Kant: The Premise of National Unity as the Union of Peoples …......................................... 32 XI. Spring of Hope, Winter of Despair: The Ultimate Expression of the 'Nation' and Its Consequences in the Modern Age …...................................................................................... 35 XII. Tolz: Theories of Nationalism and Their Application to the Russian Case …....................... 37 XIII. Harold James: The Building Blocks of German National Identity ….................................... 38 XIV. Gauland: 'Die Goethe Zeit' and the Debate of German Identity in the Post-Modern Era ….. 40 XV. Putin: The Annexation of Crimea and the Expression of Russia's Shared Identity …............ 42 XVI. Concluding Reflections …....................................................................................................... 44 Bibliography ….................................................................................................................................... 45 Page 3 of 50 Thesis Question and Abstract In understanding the causes of the concurrent development of national identity in Germany and Russia in the early 19th century, how can we better comprehend this development and its effect on our perception of national identity, nationalism, and national self-consciousness in the post-modern era? National political identity is a term often used to describe the codification of the cultural ethos, colloquial narrative, and collective vision of a people living within, but not exclusive to, a particular geographic sphere. Understanding this definition of national political identity and its role in the social construct of the modern “nation-state” is vital in gaining a deeper understanding of both the peoples and polities that have governed the modern age, and continue to direct its course. Moreover, compre- hending the ideological origins of such national political identities, and the historical continuum upon which they waned or thrived, are of paramount importance to any serious study of post-modern society. One extraordinary example is the concurrent development of nationalism in both Germany and Russia within the early 19th century. While it may appear to have evolved internally and without external in- fluence, the sociopolitical discourse regarding national self-identification within both Germany and Russia was consistently dominated by the persistent effects of Napoleon's France; likewise, the similar- ities and differences regarding religious, linguistic, and political national prerequisites between the Ger- man and Russian national consciousness provide pivotal insight into the cultural context of a national political disposition. Page 4 of 50 There will never be a fixed political state of things in this country till we have a corps of teachers instructed on established principles. So long as the people are not taught from their earliest years, whether they ought to be Republicans or Royalists, Christians or Infidels, the state cannot properly be called a nation, for it must rest on a foundation which is vague and uncertain, and it will be forever exposed to disorders and fluctuations. – Napoleon Bonaparte, from Breed's Opinions Introduction Each morning, millions of school children across America stand, face their flag, place their right hand over their hearts, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. In so doing, an interesting idea of “nation” as expressed in the concept of a Republic with principles of Liberty and Justice “for all,” is subtly conveyed by the memorization of words and phrases. This heartwarming spectacle of patriotism encourages one to question why the people of any country would engage in this sort of behavior, teaching even its youngest citizens to see themselves as members of a social order defined by philosophical ideals, engendered in language and inspired through culture. One might glean insights from the threshing floor of history as to why people, from patriarchs to plebeians, are willing to pledge their lives and fortunes to preserve, uphold, and defend their “nations,” even when geographical boundaries shift, political allegiances shuffle, and revolutionary movements shake the very foundations of civilized society which govern the rule of law. One might ask what inspires such national consciousness among citizens, even when suppressed through revolt, or challenged by revolution. What specific elements within language and culture have motivated this national sense of “we” and “they,” creating such expanded ideological platforms for the development of national identity? Indeed, as one attempts to discern these elements, the value of historical, linguistic and cultural proficiency cannot be underestimated: this idea of national consciousness is most keenly appreciated when studied apart from one's own native tongue. As such, Page 5 of 50 the historical, linguistic, and cultural proficiency in studying a nation other than one's own is also relevant and, in my view, vital to begin any worthy analysis of this subject matter. Thus, to better understand the concurrent development of German and Russian nationalism, this progression – from “State” to “Nation” – can be keenly observed throughout the Napoleonic era; moreover, it can be traced from and deduced to an identification of the individual “self” to that of the national “self” via the implementation of a national unifying idea. Within both Germany and Russia, this “nation- identity” can be diverse and circumstantial, and yet, oddly synergistic—appearing suddenly in the wake of war, yet also developing gradually through social progress. Many scholars have discussed the impact of nationalism, and analyzed the political policies and historical events surrounding social evolution and what exactly constitutes this identity—specifically how it is defined, are addressed. Furthermore, with the recent debates over mass-immigration to the European Union, and the Russian annexation of the Crimea, the study of national consciousness in these nations present a particular post- modern relevance. I. Understanding the “We” and “They:” Cultural and National Identity The term “identity,” as etymologically defined, was first introduced as a medieval Latin term identitatem [ “sameness”] from the Latin root idem [same], that later appeared as a 14th century French term identite [sameness], and used in the 16th century to describe “...sameness, oneness, or the state of being the same.”1 Simply put in modern terms, “identity” describes the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is; as such, it is, by origin, an idea specific to the study of Philosophy [Metaphysics], which seeks to probe the nature of existence and being.2 The concept of “identity” gained notoriety after Rene Descartes' declaration of the autonomy of self,3 followed thereafter by John Locke, in his memory theory of personal identity, in which he asserts that memory is a necessary and 1 According to the Etymological Dictionary, the English term idemptitie (c1560) is also derived from Medieval Latin idemptitas. https://www.etymonline.com/ 2 The branch of philosophy, formally introduced by Aristotle as “the first philosophy,” examining the fundamental nature of reality including the relationship between mind and matter, between substance and attribute, and between possibility and actuality. The science of things transcending what is physical or natural. 3 Rene Descartes. “Meditation VI” Meditations on the First Philosophy (Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1996), 322- 323 Page 6 of 50 sufficient condition of self and personal identity.4 The national identity of a given
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