Risorgimento question

[Prince Cobra]

The Italian Nationalism in this essay we’re dealing with isn’t the same as Mussolini’s nationalism where one nation’s interest is expanded at the expense of others. This is Mazzini’s idea of a free, independent, and republican Italy that is unified into one single nation. After the Congress of Vienna Italy was divided into separate states; all of them are influenced by the Habsburgs, some heavily while others aren’t. The northern states of Lombardy and Venetia are ruled directly from Vienna as provinces. The other central Duchies e.g. Parma & Modena are practically satellites. Meanwhile Piedmont, the most powerful of the states, is ruled in an autocratic and backward fashion. It was during the 1810s that Italian intellectuals first contemplated the idea of an Italian unification, and this ‘resurgence’ later flourished under its most famous advocator, Giuseppe Mazzini. The Nationalism mentioned in this essay has essentially very similar meaning to the word ‘Risorgimento’. So again the question could paraphrased as “To what extend do you agree that the greatest obstacle to the growth of Risorgimento in Italy before 1849 was due to a lack of international allies?”

I’ve made a few headways on the contents. After some research I’ve decided to concentrate my forces on three main topics – ‘Lack of unity and coordination’, ‘lack of popular support from the masses’, and ‘lack of support from other major powers (outside support). I still have not decided which one is the most important factor that was holding back the Risorgimento. Lack of coordination between different revolutionary groups was certainly important; none of them was willing to support one and another and was eventually crushed by Austria one by one. Meanwhile the masses – the Italian peasants, didn’t give a monkey about who ruled them. They were more concerned with the price of corn and flour and surviving daily life, rather than doing anything that probably wouldn’t benefit them anyway. The issue of outside support; the truth was that Italy could never make it by herself, and outside support was essential as none of the Italian states was strong enough to combat the military might of Austria, which had previously crushed all insurrections within the peninsular. France was later required for the unification, but we won’t be talking about it since this essay only goes up to 1849. The revolts of 1820-21, 1830-31, and 1848-49 would be consistently referenced to why they have failed, all the three listed reasons contributed of course.

The deadline is 2nd November. Quite a long way to go I know, but it never hurts finishing these sorts of troublesome stuff early on. When I was given this assignment I was quite worried initially, my knowledge about Italian history is quite mediocre. Aside from obvious interest in Roman history, the other periods generated little interest from me. Now after some work on this topic it is becoming quite interesting, this period certainly doesn't appear to attract much attention from the other org. residents though.

He-he, perhaps you already has the answer. You have just proved that the lack of foreign support is not the sole reason for the unsuccessful development of the Risorgimento. There are at least two other factors to put into consideration. I have left with the impression that history avoids the term " the most important", "the greatest" and etc. Perhaps you have just proved that.

I really do not know what else to add.