The New ImperialismThe New Imperialism

Picture shows Garnet Wolseley, the first British administrator of the island, “courting Cyprus”

‘‘New Imperialism’ & ‘Old New Imperialism’ & ‘Old Colonialism’ (1)Colonialism’ (1)

In In 33rdrd quarter of C19th quarter of C19th European states were largely European states were largely preoccupied with internal developments, but in last quarter preoccupied with internal developments, but in last quarter there was a v. rapid there was a v. rapid scramblescramble forfor control of new control of new coloniescolonies concentrated on concentrated on Asia & AfricaAsia & Africa (both of which, till then, (both of which, till then, had remained largely free of direct European control). This had remained largely free of direct European control). This new colonial race, often referred to as ‘new colonial race, often referred to as ‘New ImperialismNew Imperialism’, ’, created created rivalryrivalry & a tense negative atmosphere among the & a tense negative atmosphere among the European powers European powers in lead-up to World War Iin lead-up to World War I..

European power in this period was based on C19European power in this period was based on C19 thth progress in scientific, technological, industrial, agricultural, progress in scientific, technological, industrial, agricultural, transportation, communications & armaments fields, & on transportation, communications & armaments fields, & on its ability to maximize power through establishment of its ability to maximize power through establishment of nation-states.nation-states.

‘‘New Imperialism’ & ‘Old New Imperialism’ & ‘Old Colonialism’ (2)Colonialism’ (2)

ImperialismImperialism can be can be defined as:defined as:

““a policy of a policy of expanding a expanding a

nation’s power by nation’s power by seeking a form of seeking a form of

hegemony over an hegemony over an alien power.”alien power.”

‘‘New Imperialism’ & ‘Old New Imperialism’ & ‘Old Colonialism’ (3)Colonialism’ (3)

Compared to colonialism of old, the ‘New Compared to colonialism of old, the ‘New Imperialism’ was on a much Imperialism’ was on a much larger scalelarger scale & tended to be accompanied much & tended to be accompanied much greater direct European investmentgreater direct European investment, , (thereby having a much greater impact on (thereby having a much greater impact on traditional economic structures), & traditional economic structures), & oftenoften, , (though not always), much (though not always), much tighter tighter political controlpolitical control over territories. over territories.

‘‘New Imperialism’ & ‘Old New Imperialism’ & ‘Old Colonialism’ (4)Colonialism’ (4)

Different ideas about Different ideas about what causedwhat caused this wave of this wave of ‘New Imperialism’‘New Imperialism’::

Economic pressuresEconomic pressures (e.g. Hobson & Lenin) (e.g. Hobson & Lenin)

To To spread culture & religionspread culture & religion to the ‘backward’ to the ‘backward’ areasareas

Domestic socialDomestic social factors factors

Outlet for Outlet for surplus populationsurplus population

Strategic & PoliticalStrategic & Political Factors Factors

Imperial Expansion in Africa to 1880Imperial Expansion in Africa to 1880

Imperial Expansion in Africa to 1880Imperial Expansion in Africa to 1880

Partition of Africa, 1880–1914Partition of Africa, 1880–1914

Partition of Africa, 1880–1914Partition of Africa, 1880–1914

Imperial Expansion in Asia to 1880Imperial Expansion in Asia to 1880

Asia, 1880–1914Asia, 1880–1914

The System of Rival AlliancesThe System of Rival AlliancesTogether with race for colonies, other major characteristic of Together with race for colonies, other major characteristic of European politics in lead-up to WEuropean politics in lead-up to World orld WWar ar I was development of I was development of rival alliancesrival alliances. They were. They were often established as result of often established as result of defensive motivationsdefensive motivations, (based on mutual fear), , (based on mutual fear), butbut their their v.v. existenceexistence contributecontributedd to distrust & tension to distrust & tension..

System System of alliancesof alliances that that dominatedominatedd Europe was to Europe was to impt.impt. extent extent founded onfounded on underlying underlying fear & distrust between France fear & distrust between France & Germany& Germany. Yet, it was ultimately much . Yet, it was ultimately much responsible for responsible for allowingallowing what might have remained what might have remained a relatively small, local a relatively small, local crisis in Bosnian capital Sarajevo to escalate into a general crisis in Bosnian capital Sarajevo to escalate into a general warwar. Each power had become committed to support its allies.. Each power had become committed to support its allies.

As more states began to see As more states began to see war as inevitablewar as inevitable, efforts , efforts increased to build-up increased to build-up armsarms in effort to enhance security. But, in effort to enhance security. But, the the arms racearms race that resulted, by raising fears, distrust & tension, that resulted, by raising fears, distrust & tension, contributed to making war more likely.contributed to making war more likely.

The Three Emperors’ LeagueThe Three Emperors’ LeagueAfter uniting Germany After uniting Germany Bismarck Bismarck initially aimed to maintain peace & initially aimed to maintain peace & allow the German state to develop allow the German state to develop stable foundations. He stable foundations. He triedtried to to develop alliancesdevelop alliances that would help that would help safeguard Germany. In 1873 & safeguard Germany. In 1873 & again in 1881 he again in 1881 he helpedhelped establish establish ‘Three Emperors’ League’, ‘Three Emperors’ League’, [Germany, Austria, Russia][Germany, Austria, Russia].. MMembers promised to remain at embers promised to remain at least neutral if other members wleast neutral if other members wereere attacked by a 4attacked by a 4thth power. power. BBoth oth timestimes, , however, the Leagues collapsed as however, the Leagues collapsed as a consequence of rivalries in a consequence of rivalries in Balkans between Russia & Austria.Balkans between Russia & Austria.

Germany

Austria- Hungary

Russia

Dual & Triple AlliancesDual & Triple Alliances18791879 BismarckBismarck also formed also formed secret military secret military alliancealliance with with Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary (The ‘ (The ‘Dual Dual AllianceAlliance’), to which ’), to which ItalyItaly was was also added in also added in 18821882, (making it , (making it the ‘the ‘Triple AllianceTriple Alliance’). If any ’). If any member was attacked by member was attacked by Russia the others would Russia the others would militarily assist, & would at militarily assist, & would at least remain neutral if attacked least remain neutral if attacked by other states. (Later other by other states. (Later other states also states also joinedjoined, e.g. , e.g. Rumania in 1883).Rumania in 1883).

Germany Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary

GermanyItaly

The Reinsurance Treaty (1)The Reinsurance Treaty (1)

18871887 Bismarck signed another secret treaty.. Bismarck signed another secret treaty.. this time this time with Russiawith Russia. Known as . Known as the the ‘‘Reinsurance TreatyReinsurance Treaty’, ’, it it consisted of consisted of a a Russian Russian promise promise notnot to support France if she went to to support France if she went to war against Germany, (& more generally that war against Germany, (& more generally that each state would remain at least neutral if the each state would remain at least neutral if the other were attacked by a third party), & a other were attacked by a third party), & a German promise, in return, to support Russian German promise, in return, to support Russian interests in the Balkans.interests in the Balkans.

The Reinsurance Treaty (2)The Reinsurance Treaty (2)

Bismarck’s abilityBismarck’s ability to stay to stay allied with both Austria-allied with both Austria-Hungary & Russia at Hungary & Russia at same time (while same time (while these these 22 states states were rivalswere rivals in the Balkans) was in the Balkans) was a sign of hisa sign of his diplomatic skilldiplomatic skill..

ITALYITALY

AUSTRIA-AUSTRIA-HUNGARYHUNGARY

RUSSIARUSSIA

GERMANYGERMANY

Triple Triple AlliancAllianc

eeReinsurancReinsuranc

e Treatye Treaty

William II & the fall of Bismarck

In In 18881888, however, a , however, a new emperornew emperor came to the throne in Germany.came to the throne in Germany..... William IIWilliam II, unhappy with Bismarck , unhappy with Bismarck completely dominating German foreign completely dominating German foreign policy,policy, supported a more aggressive supported a more aggressive stance against Russia & more stance against Russia & more assertive foreign policy generallyassertive foreign policy generally. In . In 18901890 he basically he basically forced Bismarck to forced Bismarck to resignresign & retire. Bismarck’s intricate & retire. Bismarck’s intricate web of alliances was thereafter not as web of alliances was thereafter not as carefully maintained & Reinsurance carefully maintained & Reinsurance Treaty was not renewed.Treaty was not renewed.

Wilhelm II

(Where is his left arm?Why?)

““Dropping the Dropping the Pilot”Pilot”

This cartoon, published in British magazine ‘Punch’ in 1890, shows Bismarck (who had been the “pilot” directing Germany for so long, being dropped off the big / great German ship on to a small boat by the new Kaiser William II who watches from above.

France & the Foundations of the France & the Foundations of the Triple EntenteTriple Entente (1) (1)

FranceFrance knew that there had been an alliance knew that there had been an alliance formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary & formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary & Italy, but was not aware of the details of their Italy, but was not aware of the details of their agreements, (agreements, (esp.esp. of the fact that they were of the fact that they were essentially defensive clauses). This made her essentially defensive clauses). This made her ever-more distrustful of the new, powerful ever-more distrustful of the new, powerful German state, & German state, & esp.esp. concerned aboutconcerned about being being left alone to fight against the Germans as left alone to fight against the Germans as had been the case in the war of 1870had been the case in the war of 1870..

France & the Foundations of the France & the Foundations of the Triple EntenteTriple Entente (2) (2)

Faced with Triple Alliance, Faced with Triple Alliance, France took opportunity of France took opportunity of collapse of Reinsurance Treatycollapse of Reinsurance Treaty toto get get her own alliance her own alliance with Russiawith Russia with whom she had not traditionally had with whom she had not traditionally had goodgood relations. relations. With incr.With incr. cooperation between Germany & cooperation between Germany & Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary (with whom Russians had particularly (with whom Russians had particularly strained relations in Balkans) strained relations in Balkans) && with added sweetener of with added sweetener of the the promise of French loans & capitalpromise of French loans & capital investment, investment, Russia was also willingRussia was also willing now to form an alliance with now to form an alliance with France. In France. In 18931893 the the 22 states formed basis of what was to states formed basis of what was to become the become the Triple EntenteTriple Entente, promising mutual military , promising mutual military support support ifif either was attacked by Germany. either was attacked by Germany.

Britain & the Triple Entente (1)Britain & the Triple Entente (1)

BritainBritain had for some time followed an had for some time followed an isolationistisolationist policy & avoided joining alliances. policy & avoided joining alliances.

Further, Britain had also had Further, Britain had also had poor relations poor relations with Russia & Francewith Russia & France with whom its interests with whom its interests had tended to conflicthad tended to conflict

British & German British & German royal familiesroyal families were were relatedrelated

Some in Britain even suggested forming an Some in Britain even suggested forming an alliance with Germanyalliance with Germany

Yet Britain eventually joined Triple Entente. Why?Yet Britain eventually joined Triple Entente. Why?

Britain & the Triple Entente (2)Britain & the Triple Entente (2)

German insensitivity to Britain’s colonial interestsGerman insensitivity to Britain’s colonial interests – e.g. – e.g. “Krüger Telegram”“Krüger Telegram” congratulating forces congratulating forces opposing British in S. Africa for their success in battle.opposing British in S. Africa for their success in battle.

GermanGermanyy becoming becoming an increasingly threatening an increasingly threatening industrial & commercial rivalindustrial & commercial rival to Britain to Britain

GermanyGermany began to began to threaten Britain’s traditional threaten Britain’s traditional naval dominancenaval dominance

All of the above contributed to British decision to All of the above contributed to British decision to abandon its isolationist stance & join the Triple abandon its isolationist stance & join the Triple Entente. In Entente. In 1904 Britain reached agreement with 1904 Britain reached agreement with France & in 1907 with RussiaFrance & in 1907 with Russia..

Rival AlliancesRival AlliancesThe Triple EntenteThe Triple Entente The Triple AllianceThe Triple Alliance

(Central Powers)(Central Powers)

BritainBritain

FranceFrance RussiaRussia

Italy *Italy *

GermanyGermany Austria-Austria-HungaryHungary

vs.

By 1907 the great European Powers had been divided into 2 main rival blocs.

* While these alliances principally joined for defensive purposes in effort to enhance national security, Italian motivations were somewhat exceptional & related to goal of creating an ‘Italia Irridenta’ from territories won in the upcomming war. Italy, in fact, eventually abandoned Triple Alliance & in 1915 joined Triple Entente upon promise of territorial gains at war’s end.