German Colonialism - Why did Bismarck change his mind?

German Colonialism - Why did Bismarck change his mind?

Foreign Policy

• lift Germany into the position of a global superpower (hosts Kongo Conference in Berlin '84/'85)
• domestic and foreign recognition
• move conflicts of interests away of the European continent (France: Elsass)
• strengthen relationship with France (union against GB?)
• discredit Gladstone administration; weaken GB's position as THE economic/political superpower

Domestic Policy

• form bond with national-liberal party against socialists and left-wing parties
• establish tension between GER and GB before new Kaiser takes power

Frederick III and Victoria (Princess Royal)

• connected to GB through marriage
• liberal agenda inspired by British parliamentary system (liberal ministers, limitation of the chancellor's power etc.)
• can Frederick be controlled by Bismarck?

Bismarck (1888): 'Your map of Africa might be pretty, but my map of Africa is right here in Europe. Here is Russia, here is France and we are right in the middle - that's my map of Africa.'

In: OttoFürstvonBismarck, Die gesammelten Werke, Bd. 8: Gespräche, Berlin 1926,

646.

Social Imperialism

(H.W.Wehler)

'As long as I am Chancellor we will not pursue a colonial policy. We have a fleet that cannot sail and we should not have vulnerable spots in places far away to fall prey to the French as soon as things get started'

Quote: Otto von Bismarck 1881, Quoted in:Winfried Baumgart, Bismarcks Kolonialpolitik. In: Johannes Kunisch (Hrsg.), Bismarck und seine Zeit, Berlin 1992 S. 141–153.

Fabri: Does Germany require Colonies? (1879)

• colonies as a political act to please the masses?
• dreams of national and military power? (colonies-strong navy?)
• stop migration to NA?
• promote nationalism/develop a 'global German identity'?
• ideology of unity: 'Volk ohne Raum' ('people without space') - Social Darwinism
• 'enrich' other parts of the world with German culture and religion

Fabri, Friedrich: Bedarf Deutschland der Colonien? Eine politisch-ökonomische Betrachtung. Gotha 1879.

Bismarck's reasons against colonial advances

• German administration and bureaucracy is new and inexperienced (unlike GB or Netherlands)
• high costs and risks while profits only for a small number of private companies; no profit for national economy
• difficult to establish budget in the Reichstag
• unpredictable conflicts with other colonial powers

Conclusion

- own research:

• limited economical and political advantage; no long-term colonial strategy and Bismarck's minimal interest shortly after 1885 BUT: strong public interest, excessive use of the colonial theme in newspapers and propaganda -> Social Imperialism

Structure

- Winfried Baumgart:

• not one leading motive, a mixture of all ideas is most likely with a focus on foreign policy and an attempt to weaken GB's position as a political and economic superpower

• Introduction
• the shift towards FCD
• Colonialism and the German Emigrant Question
• German Colonialism on an international level (foreign policy)
• German Colonialism as a clash of cultures (Schismogenesis)
• Conclusion

RESEARCH

NZ (Feb.10,1883):

DOES GERMANY REQUIRE COLONIES?

"Every statesman, every patriot or simply any intelligent citizen has to be occupied by this question: Can the German people in its conquest to secure its national greatness in the future silently stand by while the other important peoples of culture ('Kulturvölker') spread out into the remaining parts of the world?"

Winfried Baumgart: Bismarcks Kolonialpolitik, in: Johannes Kunisch (Hrsg.), Bismarck und seine Zeit, Berlin 1992 S. 141–153.

What is a result that allows further research?

What is important/What is not?

Is there a way to efficiently systematize my findings?

How does this result correspond with my guiding question?

Research with a System:

• Keywords (catalog)

• short and reliable summaries

• keep research/guiding question in mind

• critical approach towards source

• bulletproof documentation

• develop a structure for the thesis

'Colonialism in the Countryside

- the coverage of Germany's colonial advance in the Newspaper of Neubrandenburg 1883-1886'

Neubrandenburg (Mecklenburg-Strelitz)

Population in 1885: 9134

Guiding Questions:

• What opinion towards formal colonial dominion was promoted in the NZ?
• Was this opinion aligned with a general tendency during that particular period?
• How can one interpret the promoted opinion while taking regional specifics into account?