Bismarck+and+Germany

By Nathalie St. The International System 1817-1890   · By 1870 the Ottoman Empire is known as the Sick Man of Europe · Europe finally has Nation-states · Nationalism is the desire for a nation state · Nation state- representatives of the nation run by the government and state institutions, state boundaries coincide with those of the nation · Conflict in the Balkans… · Ottoman Empire creates a “power vacuum” · Power vacuums cause change · Russian pan-Slavism – the fatherly approach that Russia is the protector of all the Slavic people · Nationalism · “Balance of Power” politics · New unified Germany upsets the balance · Germany – a military & industrial giant · Guns or butter – what is more important, feeding our people or defending our people? Can you have both? Which is more important? Are they interdependent? · “The German Problem” – could Europe absorb this huge new country in the heart of Europe? · Would Prussia (now Germany) continue its wars of conquests? Is the military the foundation of the country’s security? Is it a militaristic society? (Is the main aim the military) · “Prussia’s political boundaries… are not favorable to a healthy political life: not by means of speeches and majority verdicts will the great decisions of the time be made – that was the great mistake 1848 and 1849 – but by iron and blood.” - Otto von Bismarck, Sept. 1861 · Iron and blood – industry and military · Empire vs. kingdom – in an empire you have conquest of foreign land · 3 wars of unification – Danish, French, Austria · Bismarck crafts new international system, feels that Germany needs stability, status quo, unification brought hegemony, no need for huge war, wants to consolidate to become a genuine nation-state · Bismarck (The Iron Chancellor)- wants to isolate France politically/diplomatically, cooperate with Great Britain, friendship with Russia, subordinate Austria-Hungary through alliance, · 1890- New Kaiser comes in- Wilhelm II  · Assumption that France will remain hostile to Germany · Revange for Alsace-Lorraine · Bismarck encourage republic so France wouldn’t ally with Russia · He wants France to be liberal so they won’t ally with Russia · Encouraged French imperialism o Let them fight with UL and Italy in Africa and Asia · Bismarck pursued cooperation with Great Britain · Few potential sources of conflict · Genuine cooperation b/w world’s biggest army (Germany) and navy (Great Britain) · GB needs a strong Germany to balance power of France · Germany to not build bug navy · Germany not interested in colonial expansion · The Dual Alliance (1876) · Bismarck hoped to make Austria subordinate to Germany · Restrain Austrian ambitions in the Balkans · Both parties to remain neutral if other is attacked, unless Russia is involved · Anti-Russian alliance · Monarchism · In 1878 Bismarck was viewed as the “honest broker” (neutral mediator)between Austria and Russia over differences in the Balkans · He made secret treaties with both Austria-Hungary and Russia · Bismarck’s foreign policy is known as: o “Realpolitik”- German for “realistic politics”; politics based on practical considerations (political expediency) rather than theory/ethics/ideology · The movements towards nation states increases · Success on Bismarck’s foreign policy: kept France isolated for 20 years, period of unprecedented peace in Europe · Failure: short term responses were simple crises management; set background for future problems