Continuity+of+German+Foreign+Policy+1870-1914

**Continuity of German Foreign Policy 1870-1914**

 **Realpolitik vs. Weltpolitik**
 *  Caprivi remained Bismarckian in the sense that he continued to resist the considerable reassure within Germany for a ‘world policy’
 * Realpolitik –
 * Politics based on power and practical and material factors and considerations
 * Doesn’t consider ideological or moralistic notions
 * Realistic and pragmatic
 * Sneaky, devious(?)
 * Weltpolitik -
 * “A place in the sun”
 * Term applied to German foreign policy after about 1890, which represented Emperor Wilhelm II's attempt to make Germany into a world power through an aggressive foreign policy on colonies and naval bases.
 * Weltpolitik was seen as a development from nationalism that had influenced German history.
 * Before, nationalism had focused on reaching the unification of Germany. When that was achieved, German nationalists sought to increase Germany's international power, and a colonial empire was thought to be an essential part of this.
 * Social Darwinism was popular at the time, and it stated that the idea of the survival of the fittest applied to states as well as individuals. If a state did not strive to expand, it would itself be weakened or destroyed.
 * All this fed into the nationalism that already existed in Germany and prompted the greater expansionism that Weltpolitik represented.

 **Colonialism**
 * <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;">In 1913, the colonization put a great strain on taxpayers but the total German population in these colonies was low.
 * <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;">The natives in the colonies were poor, so they couldn’t support Germany’s industry and economy in any way.
 * <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;">The biggest disadvantage was that the colonial experiment of 1884-85 provided the basis for German pretensions to a “world policy” in the next decade, and consequently played a role in the events that led to the Great War.
 * <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;">Colonialism in Asia and the ‘scramble for Africa’ was a direct result of social Darwinist thinking
 * <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;">Germans were fighting thinking that their superiority assured their victory
 * <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;">The creation of a colonial programme (established in mid 1880s), was a way in which ‘deflected the demands of the lower orders in Germany society.” It was a way to keep people thinking about something else, rather than domestic problems. Even with the departure of Bismarck, there was little change to the colonial programme. (Page 119, Europe)

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> **Social Darwinism**
 * <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;">Definition: only the best suited people live on, the ill-suited are wiped out by natural selection
 * <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;">Unhealthy nationalism may sometimes result in war over ethnicity

<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;"> In Germany can be explained by several factors:
 * <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;">Technology gave power to white Europeans which made them believe they were superior
 * <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;">Social sciences were influenced by biological innovations, such as that of Darwin, and applying them to society (often misinterpreting their true meaning)
 * <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;">A nation was considered a ‘race’, which made people classified as the German race, which in turn influenced people’s thinking that some people are better than others

<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;"> The consequences of such thinking can be outlined to be:
 * <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;">Ranking people not only on their race, but also background, income etc.
 * <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;">Morality should not be considered in relationships between people- strong people strive whilst the worse die off, period.
 * <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;">Competition and struggle were glorified, war was seen as a good thing. This boosted German morale up to WW1, because they knew that war is inevitable and that they should win because their country is the best.
 * <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;">Colonialism

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Militarism**

<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;">Military spending in the vast majority of countries increased greatly before WWI: <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;"> Percentage Increase in Military Spending 1890-1913: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Britain__ <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;"> – 117% <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__France__ <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;"> – 92% <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Russia__ <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;"> – 19 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Germany__ <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;"> – 158% <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Austria Hungary__ <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;"> – 160% > > > >
 * <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;">The above figures ranged from about 5 to 6 percent of GDP (it is a lot- today, in comparison, today’s average is 3-4 percent of GDP in most countries)
 * <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;"> <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;">Colonial rivalry leads to a naval arms race between Britain and Germany.
 * <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;"> <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;">Effects of that included the impending belief that war was inevitable and coming. Germany began to think war with Russia will not be avoided because someone had to stop the rise of a power that could disrupt the balance of power and hurt them.
 * <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;"> <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;">To a certain extent this could be perceived as a change of German foreign policy after Bismark, because Wilheim II advocated more aggressive and expansionist policies, but even before that Bismark was involved in colonialism for which of course the army (aka force) was needed.
 * <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;"> <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;">It was a kind of ‘domino effect’. Germany was afraid of the power of the Russian steamroller (by this time the railroad was more efficient, fast and would be an asset in a war) and thus created a larger standing army by conscription. This provoked the French to extend their conscription length to three years. However, the British were not motivated to create a larger standing army because their naval expenses were so big.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Alliance system**
 * <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;">As well as seeking military dominance, countries of Europe wanted to protect themselves by forming alliances.
 * <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;">At first, Bismark wanted to focus on having good relations with Russia but then Kaiser Wilheim overturned this, focusing instead on the Dual Alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, then later the Triple Alliance when Italy joined.
 * <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;">Alarmed by this growing central power, the Triple Entente was formed between France, Russia and Great Britain. Ironically, the countries though that these strong alliances would prevent war. In fact, they encouraged it, because as one country went to war the others felt obliged to follow. Great Britain agreed only to an understanding between its two ex-enemies because of the arms race that the nation embarked upon with Germany and it didn’t want to feel ‘abandoned’ in the international arena. In addition, the notion of French revanchanism meant that realistically Germany could not trust France of staying out of a war between itself and Russia, which further accelerated the arms race.
 * <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;">Alliance with Austria-Hungary stayed the same, starting with the dual alliance in 1878, then later Italy joined the alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary, forming the triple alliance (page 83, Europe). Caprivi agreed to renew the triple alliance in 1891, after Bismarck’s career came to an end.

<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;">The map below shows the countries in each of the Triple Alliance and Entente groups, whilst the other countries are marked as neutral.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Nationalism** <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;">Although Germany was only united in 1871, which was quite late for example in comparison to France, nationalism still played a big role in its foreign relations before 1914. In fact, strong nationalistic sentiments were felt at the time not only in Germany, but for example in Italy which unified about ten years earlier and in the Balkans. Germany wanted to secure alliances to preserve and consolidate its power and Bismark advocated this. Although this approach may not sound very nationalistic, in fact this brought the country together and presented it as a united force in the face of other European nations. Despite the fact that after 1890 its foreign policies became more aggressive, Germany still presented a united force against its enemies. This is quite exceptional when one remembers how fractured Germany was before unification.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**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;"><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;">Bismarck’s successor as Chancellor of the Reich and as Prime Minister of Prussia was General Leo von Caprivi. His foreign policy <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__differed__ <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;">greatly from Bismarck’s, dropping many of the policies espoused by Bismarck and differing in priorities. However there were some continuity:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Caprivi remained Bismarckian in the sense that he continued to resist the considerable pressures within Germany for Weltpolitik.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anti-French
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">attempts to garner close relations with Britain, Russia, and Austria-Hungary in an attempt to isolate France diplomatically (in particular, to prevent a Franco-Russian alliance)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bismarck skillfully preserved the peace in Europe through alliances against France
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Retention of the Alsace-Lorraine
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Renewal of the Triple Alliance with Austria and Italy in 1891.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hoped to maintain friendly Russian relations, even if their actions (not renewing the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia) went against this aim.
 * <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;">Von Caprivi’s successor von Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst had pro-Russian sympathies
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hoped to maintain friendly relations with the Eastern powers
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: square; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The pursuing of closer relations with Britain
 * <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;">Anglo-German Treaty of 1890. Germany transferred to Great Britain all rights to the island of Zanzibar and to large areas of adjacent African mainland, in return for the strategiv North Sea island of Heligoland. However this failed to tempt Britain into closer relations.