1848 — A European Revolution? : International Ideas and National Memories of 1848

The idea of a 'Springtime of European Peoples', concepts of a universal republic and the awareness for the European dimension of the revolutionary events had an important impact on the ideas of 1848. They were reflected in songs, pamphlets and political statements. However, the meanings of 1848 - its histories and memories - change over time and according to different political, regional and national contexts. The initial idealism was soon replaced by nationalist aggressiveness. In most commemorations, the revolution appeared as a national event within the national histories of nation-states. This perspective only changed in 1998, on the occasion of its 150 years' anniversary, when historians, poiiticains and the public rediscovered 1848 as a European revolution, legitimising the rescue of the nation-state. 1848: A European Revolution? analyses the dichotomy between the international dimension within the ideas of the revolution and the nationalisation of memories in its commemorations over the past 150 years. The notion of a "Springtime of European Peoples," the concept of a universal republic and the awareness of a European dimension to revolutionary events all had an important impact on the ideas of 1848 and were reflected in songs, pamphlets, and political statements. However, the meanings of 1848its historical and memorieschanged over time. In most commemorations, the revolution has appeared as a national event, a perspective which changed only in 1998, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary. This book analyzes the dichotomy between the international dimension of the revolution's ideas and the nationalization of its memories. This book is among the rare contributions to the 150th anniversary of 1848 which takes a completely new, theoretically informed approach. Instead of a traditional social or political history, the authors analyse the dichotomy between the international dimension in the ideas of the revolution and the nationalisation of memories in its commemorations over the past 150 years. The book offers original research on the history of European ideas and takes part in the current debate about the relationship between history and memory. The notion of a "Springtime of European Peoples", the concept of a universal republic and the awareness of a European dimension to revolutionary events all had an important impact on the ideas of 1848 and were reflected in songs, pamphlets, and political statements. However, the meanings of 1848 -- its historical and memories -- changed over time. This book analyzes the dichotomy between the international dimension of the revolution's ideas and the nationalization of its memories.