In a very real way, yes. I think it’s important, though, that we understand that the French Revolution was about a lot more than toppling monarchy. For the modern state, in my opinion, nationalism is absolutely necessary. The French Revolution (and then Napoleon) demonstrated nationalism’s tremendous mobilization power. Thus the political class is constantly collectivizing (nationalism is simply one form of ideological collectivization), striving to create a sense of nationhood, to create a mega-tribe. Anthems, pledges, flags, military worship, righteous wars, the creation of national myths (masquerading as history), etc. all cultivate a sense of “nation” which can then be mobilized to achieve their ends on a far greater scale than Louis XVI could ever have done.
The French Revolution demonstrated the power of nationalism—in mobilizing resources, in mobilizing entire populations, in waging war. Liberty, equality, fraternity, yes: but within the framework of the nation-state, and led by the State, whose reach “for the good of the nation” was limitless. This was very different from the American Revolution, which had been more about local self-government—but even in the U.S., the nationalist, French system has come to predominate, while American-style federalism has all but disappeared. The French Revolution was about empowering “the French people” as a “nation”…
…And just like that, a new and awesome (and often deadly) force was unleashed upon the world! Napoleon was the first to grasp it and use it, but many others followed.
