Premium
The decomposition of the D anish imperial monarchy
Author(s) -
Jensen Jason O.,
Hall John A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
nations and nationalism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1469-8129
pISSN - 1354-5078
DOI - 10.1111/nana.12064
Subject(s) - nationalism , monarchy , politics , power (physics) , empire , decomposition , core (optical fiber) , political science , history , political economy , economic history , law , sociology , computer science , chemistry , telecommunications , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Abstract One of the classical questions in the study of nationalism concerns the end of empires. Is nationalism, to use the phrase of H iers and W immer, the cause or consequence of the end of empire? This paper considers a neglected case, that of the decomposition of the D anish imperial monarchy in the years between 1848 and 1864. We find that nationalist conflicts indisputably caused the end of this political entity. Crucially, D anish nationalists in the imperial core preferred to downsize the territories controlled by the O ldenburgs rather than to share power with G erman speakers in the periphery. Decomposition was not, however, inevitable: an early introduction of power‐sharing schemes might have saved the imperial monarchy.