The Invasion of Imperialism on the 19th-Century Nationalist World

In the mid-19th-century the nations of Europe were gripped by the nationalistic view within each of their countries; at this time, imperialism was in a prime position to take hold within this ideology. Although some intellectuals and anti-imperialist parties made a case against imperialism, they were often not strong enough to prevail; as a result, their rationale repeatedly fell on deaf ears. As demonstrated by Guiseppe Mazzini, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Jules Ferry, and especially exemplified by Rudyard Kipling, leaders as well as writers promoted the use of imperialism as a status symbol and as a necessity for the betterment of their nations. Each makes a case for the utilization of colonization, not simply for their own nation’s success, but also for the betterment of their captors’ nations by extending Western culture into non-Western nation-states. Guiseppe Mazzini best explains the imperialist point of view in conjunction with the nationalist view when he states that a nation which has superiority, but does not impose a threat, is their natural ally, while one which does impose a threat, through their strength or geographic location, is their natural enemy. This rationale can be seen as an imperialistic view, in a positive light, due to the rationale that many nations expanded into non-Western nations so that they might better protect their own country from other developing nations, internally and externally within the continent of Europe. He backs up this claim by suggesting that before a nation is able to prosper; they must first make it their own. This claim can be seen in both a nationalistic and imperialistic sense. This is because he is calling for the unity of Italy, while also imposing their rule beyond the Italian peninsula (Mazzini). Thomas Babington Macaulay takes a very eurocentristic tone in his speeches to the British Parliament; nonetheless, he represents the attitude that prevailed in nineteenth century imperialism. Here, he exemplifies what Rudyard Kipling was expressing in his poem The White Man’s Burden, a view in which Europeans saw their “race” as one which was better than those not originating on the European continent (Kipling). This lead to the ideal that Europeans had the duty to extend Western culture into non-Western lands, in his first speech Macaulay outlines this duty. Macaulay also promotes imperialism in India by the British in his second speech about the education of the Indian people. Here he explains that the native languages of India are of no value, so they must decide up a language in which to teach the people about western culture. He makes the case for English being the language by finally stating that even the ruling class utilizes it, and those individuals are the ones which are employed within the government (Macaulay). Jules Ferry, I believe, makes the strongest case for the importance of imperialism within the nationalist European view. He outlines the majority of the reasons behind the imperialistic view. Ferry takes the perspective of the need for imperialism due to the necessity for more places in which their nation [France] may export. Also, Ferry says one of the most prevailing lines within the imperialist ideology: “…we must say openly that indeed the higher races have a right over lower races…. The superior races have a right because they have a duty: to civilize inferior races.” This mantra can be found throughout the existence of imperialism, even prior to the nineteenth-century. Most importantly, however, he states the main cause for imperialism, which was outlined by the previously discussed authors; the ideal that a great nation must have outposts, harbors, defenses, and supply centers which are safe throughout the globe. The reason for nations, in this time, to venture into lands beyond their boarders was founded in this notion; additionally, this was supported by the rationale that, with the competition of rival nations within Europe, each nation was afraid of sinking from the first rank to the third or fourth (Ferry).

Works Cited
Thomas Babington Macaulay, Macaulay, Prose and Poetry, selected by G.M. Young
(Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1957), pp. 716-18; 721-24, 729.
Giuseppe Mazzini (1805­1872), "Europe: Its Condition and Prospects," Essays: Selected from the Writings, Literary, Political and Religious of Joseph Mazzini, ed. William
Clark (London: Walter Scott, 1880), pp. 266, 277­78, 291­92.
Kipling, Rudyard. Documents: Nations Industry and Empire. Dayton: Isidore.udayton.edu,
2013. DOC.
Jules François Camille Ferry, "Speech Before the French Chamber of Deputies, March 28,
1884," Discours et Opinions de Jules Ferry, ed. Paul Robiquet (Paris: Armand Colin &
Cie., 1897), -1. 5, pp. 199-201, 210-11, 215-18.

Cited: Thomas Babington Macaulay, Macaulay, Prose and Poetry, selected by G.M. Young (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1957), pp. 716-18; 721-24, 729. Giuseppe Mazzini (1805­1872), "Europe: Its Condition and Prospects," Essays: Selected from the Writings, Literary, Political and Religious of Joseph Mazzini, ed. William Clark (London: Walter Scott, 1880), pp. 266, 277­78, 291­92. Kipling, Rudyard. Documents: Nations Industry and Empire. Dayton: Isidore.udayton.edu, 2013. DOC. Jules François Camille Ferry, "Speech Before the French Chamber of Deputies, March 28, 1884," Discours et Opinions de Jules Ferry, ed. Paul Robiquet (Paris: Armand Colin & Cie., 1897), -1. 5, pp. 199-201, 210-11, 215-18.