Historians have debated the relationship between nationalism movements and peasantry for many years. Some historians argue that nationalism movements were primarily driven by the peasantry, while others argue that the peasantry had little to do with the rise of nationalism movements.
We will see some arguments of the famous historian.
Historian Eric Hobsbawm
One view is that the peasantry played a crucial role in the rise of nationalism movements. Historian Eric Hobsbawm, argues that nationalism movements were largely driven by the desire of peasants to escape the poverty and oppression of their lives under feudalism. He argues that the rise of nationalism movements was a response to the changing economic and social conditions of the time, with the peasantry seeking to improve their living conditions through the creation of a new nation-state.
Benedict Anderson
Another historian, Benedict Anderson, has argued that the rise of nationalism movements was primarily driven by the desire of the peasantry to escape the cultural and linguistic homogenization imposed by the colonizers. He claims that the peasantry sought to create their own distinct national identity, separate from the colonizers, as a means of asserting their autonomy and preserving their cultural heritage.
Historian Ernest Gellner
Another Historian Ernest Gellner argues that nationalism movements were driven by the urban intelligentsia, rather than the peasantry. He argues that nationalism movements were primarily a response to the growing industrialization and modernization of society, with the urban intelligentsia seeking to create a new national identity as a means of asserting their own power and influence in the face of these changes.
Historian Anthony Smith
Historian Anthony Smith has argued that the connection between nationalism and peasantry is complex. He believes that the peasantry can act as a source of support for nationalist movements but it is not the main driving force behind it. He argues that nationalism movements are often driven by a variety of factors, including economic, political, and cultural factors, with the peasantry playing a secondary role at best.
Historians have debated the relationship between nationalism movements and peasantry for many years, with different historians taking different perspectives. Some argue that the peasantry played a crucial role in the rise of nationalist movements, while others argue that the peasantry had little to do with the rise of nationalist movements. There is no consensus among historians on the relationship between nationalism and peasantry.
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