Mazzini

By today’s standards, the words of Mazzini would seem very nationalistic and conservative. But when taking a closer work, Mazzini’s nationalist views are very liberal, especially for the time period. His nationalist ideas oppose all others, in that what they think as nationalist, he does not.

Mazzini’s liberal views stand out compared to Nationalist at the time. He believes that HUMANITY is the key to a nation’s success, “Your first duties - first as regards importance - are, as I have already told you, towards Humanity. You are men before you are either citizens or fathers.” He believes that all humans were created to have an equal amount of duties to their nation, even though God had divided men into different social classes. It was the governments that skewed this idea of divine power, “Evil governments have disfigured the Divine design… They have disfigured it by their conquests, their greed, and their jealousy even of the righteous power of others.” He does not believe that nationalism is wanting your nation to be greater in size, power and military over others. It is to have a better understanding for humanity than other nations.

Mazzini believes that one day this skewed vision of the conservatives will change and that, “The map of Europe will be redrawn. The countries of the peoples, defined by the vote of free men, will arise upon the ruins of the countries of kings and privileged castes, and between these countries harmony and fraternity will exist.” He believes that men can change their government in a peaceful manner and that it is there right by God to do so.

Mazzini is a nationalist because he strives to make his nation a better place and a powerful center. His liberal aspect are that he believes that a nation can be a wonderful thing when all of its people are untied in brotherhood, not separated by the caste systems of the governments, “There is no true country where the uniformity of that right is violated by the existence of caste privilege and inequality.” This was not a common idea seen through out the nationalist party. Mazzini has faith, though. Faith that people could come together in association to form a better nation. This is an idea that anyone, conservative or liberal, should respect.