European Imperialism and Global Conflict: 1870-1914
European Imperialism and Global Conflict (1870-1914)
Imperialism (16th-18th Centuries)
Between 1870 and the start of World War I in 1914, significant changes occurred. The economic downturn of 1873-1879 spurred protectionism, leading to a search for new markets, industries, and investment opportunities for growing European nations. Europe’s population surge to 450 million between 1815 and 1914 necessitated advancements in transportation. Powerful trading companies and chambers of commerce established themselves in colonies to bolster their home economies.
Causes of World War I
Economic Factors
The need for new markets fueled commercial rivalry, particularly with Germany’s expansionist ambitions. Britain’s industrial dominance waned, exacerbating tensions.
Political Tensions
Political rivalry between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans intensified. By 1907, Europe was divided into two blocs: the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, escalating international tensions. Germany’s new military laws extended service and increased spending. France followed suit in 1903, mandating three years of military service. Internal crises plagued the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1905, threatening its stability. The Russian Empire faced revolution. France and Great Britain clashed with Germany.
The Third French Republic
Following the Second Empire’s collapse, the Third Republic was proclaimed in Paris. In the ensuing decades, France emerged as the continent’s sole major republic. Bismarck’s foreign policy initially isolated France, a situation that eased only with rapprochement with Russia in the 1890s. Simultaneously, significant colonial expansion occurred overseas. Domestically, a divide persisted between the secular republican left and the clerical, authoritarian right. Tensions culminated in the Dreyfus Affair, a scandal involving espionage and military corruption that exposed deep societal divisions and anti-Semitism.
The Ideological Justification: Racism
Imperialism cannot be understood without acknowledging its intellectual justification: racism. Many 19th-century Europeans believed in the superiority of the white race and its right and duty to dominate others.
Types of Colonies
Colony: A territory acquired (typically through military intervention) and directly owned or governed by a foreign power.
Dominion (Settler Colony): A territory conquered by another country, often experiencing significant demographic shifts due to European migration, eventually leading to autonomy.
Protectorate (Indirect Rule): A territory indirectly administered by a foreign power through existing indigenous authorities or elite figureheads who govern nominally but lack actual power.
Department: An occupied territory formally and legally incorporated into the metropolis as a province.