[nkycincinnatikid]

But you reject my point , that far from a desire for national greatness , the historically provincial germans were forced very late to accept nationalism, and militarism in defense of their culture. The genie thereby unleashed proved so threatening to the established states that preemptive wars were assured.

[u-89]

the historically provincial germans were forced very late to accept nationalism

Forced together by the warfare of big thinkers like Bismarck. The Germanic States were unified by force by Prussia and not as a voluntary union or confederation like the US. Of course once unified Germany had to play catch up with the other European nations and become an imperial power. It had to have it's proper place under the sun you know. Well they got. And it should be a lesson to us today - all this neocon talk of national greatness and gloabl hegemony is making me nervous.