Aims,+Methods,+Continuity+and+Change+in+German+foreign+policy+(1870-1914)

__Methods__ 

Bismarck       Wilhelm II (1890-1914)
 * Main method was diplomacy (treaties, honesty, tried to preserve status quo, peaceful)
 * He knew how to get benefits without involving Germany too much in it (alliances that benefited Germany, and protective measures to keep it from getting too involved in allied countries affairs.)
 * Due to the struggle to unify Germany, Bismarck was very cautious with his foreign policies.Bismarck’s foreign policies were all aiming to prevent external events from disrupting the settlement that he had created, and so the premises of Bismarck’s foreign policy after 1871 were defensive.
 * Bismarck aimed to preserve the peace among the three empires of central-eastern Europe, for which he created the //Dreikaiserbund// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a league between the three powers where they could discuss. Bismarck formed the Dreikaiserbund to persuade the monarchs of Austria and Russia that they had a common interest, which was greater than their conflicting aims.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He continued to use diplomacy to achieve his goals (continued peace) as was demonstrated at the Congress of Berlin, where he managed to play the “honest broker” between Austria and Russia.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bismarck was always worried about Germany’s geopolitical position and so his foreign policy remained cautious and peaceful.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was willing to compromise principles in order to preserve the status quo.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bismarck succeeded to control the European Diplomacy and keep the balance of power among the European countries at that time, through his alliance systems.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">[|Foreigners]perceived the foreign policies under Wilhelm and Buelow as nasty, swaggering, aggressive, and insensitive, which was a complete change to Bismarck’s attitude towards foreign affairs.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Under [|Wilhelm], Germany pursued the policy of Weltpolitik
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A policy whereby Germany tried to establish and advance German interests in all parts of the world, rather than concentrating upon European affairs. It was the main aim and method of Wilhelm II.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Wilhelm II pursued a global policy he sharply changed the foreign policy and sought naval as well as colonial expansion.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to be a global power and have a say in world politics, Germany’s navy became the second largest in the world under Wilhelm (a method to get them involved)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acquiring colonies- If Germany didn’t have any colonies it wouldn’t have a voice in world politics.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wilhelm was an impatient man, subjective in his reactions and affected strongly by sentiment and impulse.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1890 Germany refused to renew their Reinsurance Treaty with Russia.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite decades of policy that Germany wouldn’t develop a navy, they started to develop one anyways, Tripitz helped build a naval fleet as a means of power for Weltpolitik. This would go on to be used as a tactic to enhance Germany's prestige.