I find the standard historical descriptor “unification” to be statist embellishing and give the false idea that this was somehow grassroots.
“War is politics through other means”, and all that jazz. German unification movements were widespread and a key component of Prussia’s success wasleveraging that grassroots enthusiasm towards a unified German nation to assist them, by portraying themselves as the most likely to be able to achieve it.
“Unification” = Prussian dominance through conquering, alliances, and coercion.
I find the standard historical descriptor “unification” to be statist embellishing and give the false idea that this was somehow grassroots.
Welcome to reality. It’s war. And diplomacy. Which is war with different means.
Why would anybody give up power if they didn’t have to?
“War is politics through other means”, and all that jazz. German unification movements were widespread and a key component of Prussia’s success was leveraging that grassroots enthusiasm towards a unified German nation to assist them, by portraying themselves as the most likely to be able to achieve it.