9 December 2025
State and Nation

The predominant idea in the 19th century (Mazzini) was that if every nation had its own state (patriotism), then wars would end, because they were believed to arise from the greed of sovereigns. In reality, the correspondence between state and nation is extremely complex, so in the end this pacifist patriotism turned into warlike nationalism.
Economic factors have nothing to do with it, contrary to what Marxism claimed.

More precisely, the concept of homeland–nation was dominant among educated people (the bourgeoisie). But later it became widespread and undisputed for everyone, and at least in theory it still is. We should also note that this change appeared when the concept went from being bourgeois and elitist (early 19th century) to becoming common heritage (late 19th and early 20th century).