Compare and Contrast the Philosophies of Metternich and Bismarck

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The Answer is Metternich and Bismarck were both influential figures in European history, but their philosophies and ideals were quite different. Metternich, a statesman and diplomat of the Austrian Empire, was a proponent of conservatism and sought to maintain the status quo in Europe. He believed in the principles of legitimacy, where the traditional monarchies and social hierarchies should be preserved. On the other hand, Bismarck, the Chancellor of the German Empire, was a proponent of realpolitik, which emphasized practical and realistic politics rather than idealistic notions.

The driving ideals for Metternich were the preservation of the traditional order and the prevention of revolutionary movements. He viewed nationalism as a threat because it challenged the existing political and social structures. Nationalism sought to unite people based on their shared language, culture, and history, which could potentially lead to the dissolution of multi-ethnic empires like the Austrian Empire. Metternich feared that nationalism would lead to internal unrest and the disintegration of the conservative order he sought to uphold.

In contrast, Bismarck's driving ideals were the unification and strengthening of Germany. He saw nationalism as a powerful force that could be harnessed to achieve his goals. Bismarck used nationalism as a tool to rally the German people behind the idea of a unified German state, which ultimately led to the formation of the German Empire in 1871.

Overall, Metternich and Bismarck had opposing philosophies and approaches to nationalism. Metternich sought to suppress nationalism in order to maintain the traditional order, while Bismarck embraced nationalism as a means to achieve his goal of German unification.

Compare and Contrast the Philosophies of Metternich and Bismarck

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