Mazzini, Cavour, and Garibaldi: Opposing Views and Instrumental Personalities Essay Example
Mazzini, Cavour, and Garibaldi: Opposing Views and Instrumental Personalities
Europe in the mid-nineteenth century was a tumultuous continent surging with popular movements. In particular, there was a notable increase in nationalism, not only amongst countries that were united but as well as in regions of divided states that were bound by a shared language or culture. Perhaps the greatest examples of nationalism during this time were the movements for unification among the Germanic states as well as among the Italian states. The Risorgimento, or rather, the movement for Italian unification, spanned more than half of the century, and can be considered one of the foremost historical examples of cultural nationalism. It was a period of intense Italian patriotism as well as of fervent political activity. The movement for Italian unification did not only involve the Italian states, but also put the interests of other great European powers at stake. Although its roots can be placed as far back as the first half of the eighteenth century, the Risorgimento really gained momentum in the 1820s. Although it began as a republican movement, the end result was quite different. Although there are numerous reasons for the movement’s success, it is without a doubt that Italian unification could not have been achieved without the direction of three key figures: Giuseppe Mazzini, Camillo di Cavour, and Giuseppe Garibaldi. It was under the influence of Mazzini that the Risorgimento gained momentum, because of the political strategies of Cavour it became a realization, and because of the nationalistic campaigns of Garibaldi that it became a success. However, ultimately it was Cavour’s realistic vision of a constitutional monarchy that was realized; Mazzini’s utopian republican ideals and Garibaldi’s intention of dictatorship, although important in the journey towards unification, were diminished. Giuseppe Mazzini was among the most influential political theorists existing in
Europe in the mid-nineteenth century was a tumultuous continent surging with popular movements. In particular, there was a notable increase in nationalism, not only amongst countries that were united but as well as in regions of divided states that were bound by a shared language or culture. Perhaps the greatest examples of nationalism during this time were the movements for unification among the Germanic states as well as among the Italian states. The Risorgimento, or rather, the movement for Italian unification, spanned more than half of the century, and can be considered one of the foremost historical examples of cultural nationalism. It was a period of intense Italian patriotism as well as of fervent political activity. The movement for Italian unification did not only involve the Italian states, but also put the interests of other great European powers at stake. Although its roots can be placed as far back as the first half of the eighteenth century, the Risorgimento really gained momentum in the 1820s. Although it began as a republican movement, the end result was quite different. Although there are numerous reasons for the movement’s success, it is without a doubt that Italian unification could not have been achieved without the direction of three key figures: Giuseppe Mazzini, Camillo di Cavour, and Giuseppe Garibaldi. It was under the influence of Mazzini that the Risorgimento gained momentum, because of the political strategies of Cavour it became a realization, and because of the nationalistic campaigns of Garibaldi that it became a success. However, ultimately it was Cavour’s realistic vision of a constitutional monarchy that was realized; Mazzini’s utopian republican ideals and Garibaldi’s intention of dictatorship, although important in the journey towards unification, were diminished. Giuseppe Mazzini was among the most influential political theorists existing in