Nations Worth Dying For? National Identities and the Coming of the Great War - Pierre Purseigle

Dr. Pierre Purseigle, historian and President of the International Society for First World War Studies, discusses the evolution of national identity and nationalism in prewar Europe, the differences between national identity and nationalism, and the changing relationship between empires, states, and their subjects/citizens.
Presented at the World War I Historical Association Symposium, "The Coming of the Great War," November 8-9, 2013.
Recorded November 9, 2013 in J.C. Nichols Auditorium at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial.
For more information about the National WWI Museum and Memorial visit theworldwar.org

[@jamesweldon7028]

Does an Italian think of himself as an Italian in 1810, 1850, 1930? What does the title even mean? I think of how Catalonia wants to break away from Spain. What does it mean to be from Spain?

[@GuinessOriginal]

Ditto basque. Andalusia is very different from the rest of Spain too, like Scotland or Bavaria. Most Italians identify with their city, town or region far more strongly than their country, it’s the same in Spain

[@kidmohair8151]

I am of the opinion that nationalism was something that the old monarchies encouraged in the wake of the 1848 revolutions, so they could maintain control over their polities. It worked rather well....until they couldn't control the thing they had unleashed. But they did get another 65 years in charge. (and a lot of their descendants are still very very wealthy)

[@gabirican4813]

What was that thing about Romanian being "re-constructed" in the 19th century?

[@jezalb2710]

This was what happened

[@GuinessOriginal]

@@jezalb2710 explain. What does that mean?

[@Edax_Royeaux]

I thought Hitler had a kaiser mustache early on WWI? So he wouldn't have had that toothbrush mustache during the time of that Munich photograph.

[@BudFieldsPPTS]

Why not? He didn't join on Day 1. When he did, he was assigned to a training reserve unit. Plenty of time for a trip to the Barber, I should think.

[@cdnredneck99]

he shaved it like that after he got gassed near the end of ww1, he thought his gas mask would work better

[@johanneduardschnorr3733]

colin schnor Absolutely! Lots of Germans had that type of mustache during WW1 for that reason. PS, I think you are missing an “r”😊

[@semproblemas8634]

Did your publisher come up with that title?

[@darthbigred22]

I'm not buying people weren't excited for the war. Look at that era and the previous generations before it, they didn't see war as some great sacrifice they saw it as a way to prove oneself, a manly duty, or a great adventure. I think he's bringing too much of the war poets or 1960s sentiments into things and acting as if they are universal truths when history seems to indicate otherwise. Afterall if wars were so maligned, seen as pointless, or otherwise they wouldn't be fought.

[@GuinessOriginal]

With the censored propaganda narrative in the media today and the public’s eagerness to accept it, I wouldn’t be surprised if they reacted exactly the same way to the announcement of all out war again