Eric Hobsbawm: Mass-Producing Traditions

Mass-Producing traditions:Europe 1870-1914Eric Hobsbawm

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Eric Hobsbawm

• 1917-2012• British Marxist historian, University of Cambridge

• Very rich academic career• Industrial capitalism, socialism, nationalism


Context

• 1870-1914• Political and Social invented traditions• Political and social changes during 19th century

• State as framework: “peasants into Frenchmen”

• Modernization – new political order – legitimacy back to the roots

• Rise of mass politics: socio-political challenges expressed in vote


Invented Traditions in France

Three major innovations:•Primary education as secular equivalent of Church: Republican principles and content embedded•Public ceremonies•Mass production of public monuments


French National Symbols

• Democracy and the image of the Republic: Marianne

• Visible link between electorate and nation• History divisive force• Other symbols:

– Flag– Republican motto– Marseillaise– 14th of July


Invented Traditions in Germany

• Unification no historical legitimacy• Era of Wilhelm II• Goals:

• Establishing continuity between First and Second German Empires

• Stressing historical experiences that linked Prussia-Germany (Franco-German War became central)

• Means: – Concept of national enemy– Concept of cultural, political, and military

supremacy


France - Germany

France Germany

Stress founding acts of new regime

Stress founding acts of new regime

FR (Bastille) only point of historical reference

Franco-German War

Established nation Nation defined by what is was against (Social-Democrats/Jews as internal enemies). mobilization of masses who felt threatened by both groups


Invented Traditions in U.S.A.

• Heterogeneous mass: Americans had to be made• Immigrants encouraged to accept rituals commemorating the history of the nation (4th of July, Thanksgiving Day)

• Nation absorbed collective rituals of immigrants (St. Patrick’s Day)

• Education as machine for political socialization (worship of flag,…)


The Social Invented Traditions

• Mass movements: socialist labour movement and May Day (1890)

• Became symbolically charged because coincided with ‘Moving Day’

• Internationalism (symbols of red flag/flower)

In between ‘political’ and ‘social’ traditions

• Football/soccer as proletarian cult (but governing institutions led by middle class)


The Middle Class

• Limited to their area of living elites• Neither elite nor ‘the masses’: how to establish a middle class identity?

• Wanted to create a new community to play an important role in

• Education as important criterion• Sport and institutionalization of sport

– political: form a ruling elite – social: draw a line between classes + medium of identification


Other Examples

• Daughters of American Revolution (non-profit organization for women who are direct descendants of founding fathers, promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism)

• Olympic Games• Football Cup Final• Tour de France


Conclusion

• State and politics dominant factors • Invented traditions to reinforce feeling of nation/belonging

• Every nation has his own invented traditions• Some invented traditions last, others do not:

– Symbolic public buildings peaked 1870-1914– Ceremonies, parades,… proved lasting

In how far are these invented traditions pliable/manipulable for social and political functions?


Thank you for your attention!

Eric Hobsbawm: Mass-Producing Traditions

Education

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