"At all events, from the point of view of ruling classes the important thing was not what 'the masses' believed, but that their beliefs now counted on politics."
Nationalism and Democracy came to scene during that period from 1848-1875. When tradition was overthrown by equality (the word-of-order brought by the bourgeoisie to justify its new theories), democracy appeared as a natural consequence. Folklore and Language were used or adjusted to create the concept of nations, thus providing the stage for the new (economic) ruling class to perform. Our civilization has been born.
What will come next? A return to tradition? A new nationalism of virtual tribes?
See Feudalism.
(Based on "The Age of Capital: 1848-1875" by Eric Hobsbawm, chap. 5 and 6)
Carpe Diem,
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