Analyzation of Mazzini's "The Young Italy Oath"

"The Young Italy Oath" conceived and written by Giuseppe Mazzini was a sworn promise to the movement of a unified Italy. Mazzini, a leader amongst Italian "rebels", wrote this as a means to insure dedication to the cause. It is the 1830's in Italy, the beginnings of a nearly three decade fight for unification. Written for hopeful initiates of the Young Italy brotherhood, it conveys the idea that the Italy they and Mazzini are fighting for is a liberal republican Italy in which everyone has EQUAL rights. It is a piece of historical work that displays nationalism as a growing emotion in nations across Europe, inspiring self-determination of ethnic groups. European nationalism in the early 1800's is defined by pride of country, culture, and language. With Mazzini's writing language, it is easy to see why some have called this new nationalism a "secular religion"; Mazzini's oath is not unlike Roman Catholic laypeople's vows of chastity and obedience to the pope. His oath ends with "NOW AND FOREVER" which stamps the label of semi-fanaticism on many nationalist movements. His liberal views were a bit too optimistic in 1831 because his hope of equality among men did not coincide with the political reality of the time in which there were monarchs, popes, and strong middle class voices.