Theoretical understanding using Elias' "The Germans", to construe a picture of Nationalism in Germany.
Elias demonstrates a profound working knowledge of the mentality behind the atrocities of the National Socialist movement in Nazi Germany. His book The Germans (1996) mainly focuses on the historical foundation and social psychological processes of cause and effect to illustrate sociological reasoning behind, as well as after, the rise of Hitler. The main theme throughout this paper will be the concept of Nationalism; in this sense, a social as well as political ideology including the connotations associated with the term and how they have changed.
This paper will attempt to explain the extremism behind Germany’s nationalist mentality as well as create a neutral platform for the concept by observing different points of approach. For example, at the other end of the spectrum there exists Anderson’s positive conception of nationalism through media and capitalism. In Imagined Communities (2001) he asserts that nationalism is a mental and cultural phenomenon necessary for functioning democracies, as well as political integration. The standards of national identity and what it means to develop and cultivate a believing population, have changed over the years by market economies, globalization, and capitalist enterprise today. Nationalism, still, takes the forefront of critique since the Holocaust even if in its simplest form, is a naturally occurring phenomenon.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Rise of the middle class: Nationalism
3. ‘Culture’ and ‘Civilization’
4. National Civilizing Patterns
5. The State Formation Process of Germany: Analysis and Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the historical and sociological roots of nationalism in Nazi Germany, primarily utilizing the theories of Norbert Elias and Benedict Anderson to explain how extreme national identity and social processes contributed to the rise and mindset of the National Socialist movement.
- The sociopsychological transition of German identity through autocratic rule.
- The role of the middle class in shaping nationalist ideology.
- The evolution of 'culture' and 'civilization' concepts in the German context.
- The formation of a 'we image' and the resulting exclusion of the 'other'.
- The structural impact of state formation and internal political instability.
Excerpt from the Book
Rise of the middle class: Nationalism
Long after the French Revolution, the European states were still dominated by revolutionary movements and the idea of victorious reform, especially during the industrialization era where the working classes realized their potential. However in Germany, “subordination to autocratic power elites, whether of a monarchical or a dictatorial kind, [became] a deeply embodied habit”; this, like any other culture, is not easily subject to change or manipulation. As a result, there existed no real anti-royal our counter-regime figures that could lead the way to revolution as it occurred in the neighbouring countries. The underlying cause was a severe lack in the people’s independency, ergo they were incapable of developing their own social techniques and opinions.
The advances of humankind in regards to further industrialization, economic growth and the sciences overshadowed the positive-feeling perspective of humanism and its role for the future. The common good of the nation, its capabilities to expand and compete with neighbouring countries, and the actualization of its maximum potential moved to the highest priority; this meant looking at the past. In Germany, this process cemented “the core of their ‘we image’ and ‘we ideal’ [as] formed by an image of their national tradition and heritage (p.135)”. This was a critical turning point in mentality. Instead of looking to the future and the potential for progress the focus was placed on the past and the unchanging nature of national values and beliefs. This reversed the social definitions of ‘culture’ and ‘civilization’ “from concepts referring to processes ... into concepts referring to unchanging states”. The ‘we image’ was to mirror the satisfying emotional ties to the accomplishments of ancestors. The strength of this new found ‘we image’ perpetrated a type of force that undermined morals and human principles. This means that a distrust in other groups, fear, and violence became elements which were now unquestioned as long as they were in the interest of the state.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the theoretical background by introducing Norbert Elias and Benedict Anderson to frame the analysis of nationalist ideology and its relation to the Nazi German mentality.
Rise of the middle class: Nationalism: Examines how the lack of revolutionary tradition and the habit of subordination to autocratic elites shaped the German middle class's nationalist values.
‘Culture’ and ‘Civilization’: Analyzes how the shifting definitions of these concepts were manipulated to foster a collective 'we image' to resolve identity crises following historical defeats.
National Civilizing Patterns: Explores the connection between Germany's historical landscape of fragmented kingdoms and the psychological need for a strong leader and militarized order.
The State Formation Process of Germany: Analysis and Conclusion: Synthesizes the structural factors of German nation-building and concludes that the Nazi movement was a desperate, destructive reaction to historical instability and the loss of power.
Keywords
Nationalism, Nazi Germany, Norbert Elias, Benedict Anderson, Middle Class, Autocracy, Identity, Culture, Civilization, State Formation, Sociological Reasoning, Authoritarianism, Collective Mentality, Ideology, Holocaust
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work examines the sociological and psychological foundations of the nationalist mentality that allowed for the rise of the National Socialist movement in Germany.
What are the central themes of the analysis?
The core themes include the concept of nationalism, the transformation of social identity, the impact of autocratic rule on individual psychology, and the role of 'we images' in creating social cohesion.
What is the central research objective?
The paper seeks to explain the extremism behind Germany's nationalist mentality and to provide a neutral framework for understanding nationalism by comparing different theoretical approaches.
Which scientific methods or theories are applied?
The author applies sociological theories from Norbert Elias regarding the civilizing process and mentality, alongside Benedict Anderson’s concept of 'Imagined Communities' to interpret German history.
What is discussed in the main body of the text?
The body analyzes the transition of power to the middle class after 1918, the redefining of cultural and civilization-based identity, and the structural factors of state formation that led to the militarization of German society.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Key terms include Nationalism, Nazi Germany, Identity, Autocracy, Civilizing Process, Middle Class, and Social Cohesion.
How did the lack of a democratic revolutionary history affect German society?
The paper argues that the absence of a successful anti-royalist revolution created a deep-seated habit of subordination to autocratic elites, leaving the populace less capable of independent social thought.
Why does the author classify the Nazi movement as a 'final exhibition of desperation'?
The text suggests that the movement was a response to long-term power declines and historical instability, leading to an extreme, irrational devotion to maintain national greatness at any cost.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Saskia Andresen (Autor:in), 2015, Understanding Nationalism in Nazi-Germany, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/294287
