Impact of Industrialization on Society and Imperialism
However, individuals could secure employment, though initially, the miserable conditions were very difficult. This was gradually remedied by industry or region, where workers were able to increase their wages (in 1873, despite the crisis and increased wages, this trend reversed). Overall, the income gap between the upper class and the working class continued to grow.
- Liberalism seemed to impose its model without any limitation, but it was affected by the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution, which defined the institutional framework governing relations between the social and institutional models.
Rise of Racist Nationalism and Imperialism
Racist nationalism emerged, exemplified by Greece in 1830 and Germany in 1870.
A policy of force was used in the formation of new nation-states, shaped by the view that only large cities with ambitions and a “will to power” were predestined to exercise supremacy at the expense of inferior peoples. Jacob Burckhardt believed that it was necessary to be a power to grant political status overseas, as opposed to those without colonies. This nationalistic imperialism is the base current of thought rooted in racism, recognizing the superiority of some men over others. The “white man’s burden,” a pseudo-humanitarian concept, raised the duty of Europeans, who enjoyed the benefits of being a modern, industrialized society, to transmit civilization and progress to undeveloped countries. These attitudes originated in the idea of the superiority of the Aryan race, allowing interference by Charles Darwin and the actions of white men in Asia and Africa. Ferry stated that the rights of superior races were related to the lower races, but this was a superior civilizing duty. Obtaining colonies also made sense as part of a new balance of international forces, as well as ensuring raw materials in a context of tension between nations. Thus, the Great War occurred between:
Imperialist countries against Nationalists.
Federalist Ideals and Social Imperialism
The current Federalist movement favored a policy to replace the supranational power of the legal protection of the independence of nations.
Social Imperialism: Trends in European countries aimed to counter the labor movement and Marxist theory, and to avoid civil war within Europe. Although new settlements economically benefited only the bourgeoisie, who had access to positions of power, many people made an exodus to the colonies, both formal and informal.
Economic Shifts and Protectionism
The increase in supply was provided by the electrical and chemical industries, increasing productivity. This contracted international trade of primary and secondary goods, favored by a transport revolution.
There was a crisis of profitability due to lower prices caused by increasing competition. To avoid state competition, tariffs increased, protecting the domestic market for local producers. The search for colonies unleashed an imperialist wave in 1884. Nations needed to open new bases to curb lucrative national stagnation since they could not increase production while workers had a fixed salary. Therefore, they sought new lands to sell their products. This led to Protectionism.
Underconsumption Theory and State Intervention
There was a surge in the intervention of European states to combat the imperialist vision, known as the underconsumption theory. This theory posited that imperialism is the result of the social injustice of capitalism. A fair distribution of profits could be modified through social reform, seeking a political solution to increase the consumption capacity of workers and integrating the role of state public spending. Thus, production could be absorbed without resorting to new areas.