We explain what Weltpolitik was and what consequences did it have in the alliance system that led to World War I.
What was the Weltpolitik?
The German term weltpolitik (“world politics”) designates Foreign policy initiated by Kaiser Guillermo II by accessing the throne of the German Empire in 1888.
Unlike the Realpolitik (“realistic policy”) promoted by Foreign Minister Otto von Bismarck, who was looking for a balance of power through diplomacy in Europe, the Weltpolitik aimed to achieve German hegemony in the world through arms development and political expansion.
One of the main consequences of the Weltpolitik was the naval competition between Germany and the United Kingdom. The Weltpolitik too stimulated the formation of alliances against the growing German powermainly between France, the United Kingdom and the Russian Empire. This process was shaped to the two groups of countries that faced the First World War (1914-1918).
Key points
- The Weltpolitik (“world politics”) was implemented by the German emperor Guillermo II from 1890 after asking for the resignation of Foreign Minister Otto von Bismarck.
- The Weltpolitik consisted of promoting the development of the weapons to undertake a more aggressive expansionist policy, which meant abandoning the realpolitik of Otto von Bismarck that sought the balance of power in Europe through diplomatic route.
- The Weltpolitik encouraged the competition with the United Kingdom for naval power and caused the reaction of the other European powers, which were configuring a series of alliances that became effective when World War I broke out (1914-1918).
Emperor Guillermo II and Weltpolitik
In 1888, after the death of Guillermo I, King of Prussia and first emperor (Kàiser) of Germany, his son, Federico III, agreed to the throne of the German Empire, Federico III. However, he died three months due to a disease and was happened by his son, Guillermo II, who was only twenty -nine years old.
Guillermo I had appointed otto von bismarck chancellor from Germanywho had applied a peaceful foreign policy to maintain a balance in Europe and consolidate the position of Germany. This trend was called Realpolitik (“realistic policy”), as it responded to pragmatic and moderate criteria. When Guillermo II agreed to the German throne, Bismarck was forced to resign in 1890.
After separating Bismarck from the Foreign Ministry, Guillermo II threw himself into the construction of world hegemony of Germanywhich received the name of Weltpolitik (“world politics”).
Consequences of the weltpolitik
In the short term, the Weltpolitik had three consequences:
The restraining of Germany and Russiabecause Guillermo II decided not to renew in 1890 the reinsurance treaty that guaranteed the neutrality of each empire in case of war with another power (this decision led to the approach of Russia to France).
The growing confrontation of Germany with the United Kingdomcaused by economic competition and German naval construction plans.
The alliances formation To deal with the growing German aggressiveness (these agreements ended up configuring the triple entente in 1907):
- The Franco-Russian Alliance of 1893
- The Cordiale Franco-Britanian of 1904
- The Anglo-Ruso Agreement of 1907.
The alliances policy in the Weltpolitik years
The Triple Alliance (1882)
Before the arrival at the throne of Guillermo II and the introduction of the Weltpolitik, the Main alliance of the complex system designed by Bismarck was the triple alliance.
After opting for the alliance With Austria-Hungary, Bismarck found it impossible to maintain an agreement with the Austrohungal Empire and the Russian Empire, as they were confronted in the Balkans. Bismarck then found Italy an ally against France.
On the one hand, Bismarck considered that its main diplomatic objective was to maintain the isolation of France. On the other hand, the Italian government thought that, with its adherence to the triple alliance and its association with Germany, it had the open path to access the rank of great power. In addition, the Italian government was discontent for the French attitude to its colonial aspirations in Tunisia, as France occupied that territory.
Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy agreed in 1882 to support each other in case of being attacked by France or Russia. The treaty was reaffirmed several times until 1913, although the Italian position was increasingly uncomfortable. In May 1915, shortly after the First World War began, Italy abandoned the triple alliance.
The Franco-Rusa Alliance (1893)
For a long time, the deep difference between the political regimes of France and Russia prevented the creation of an alliance between them. Tsar Alejandro III, representative of the last autocracy in Europe, claimed to feel contempt for the French Republican system.
However, the aggressive policy initiated by Guillermo II and its refusal to renew the reinsurance treaty between Russia and Germany facilitated the formation of the alliance.
The military agreement, focused on mutual aid against Germany, was signed on August 17, 1892although he entered into force the following year and was publicly known in 1895.
This alliance It meant the definitive end of diplomatic systems designed by Bismarck and allowed France to get out of its isolation.
The Franco-British cordiale entente (1904)
Thanks to its economic, naval and colonial hegemony, the United Kingdom had remained for decades in what was called the “splendid isolation.” However, The German Weltpolitik was a challenge so great that it forced the British government to seek alliances with other powers.
On the other hand, French Foreign Minister Théophile Delcassé initiated an active campaign in favor of a Franco-British alliance.
The signature of cordial understanding (or Cordiale entertainment) Between France and the United Kingdom It meant an approach based on the solution of their colonial disputes, which had been about to bring both countries to war in 1898. The aggressiveness of the German Weltpolitik had promoted the alliance between the United Kingdom and France.
THE ANGLO-RUSO AGREEMENT (1907)
During the first Moroccan crisis, the German empire intervened against the interests of France in Morocco, and this was about to trigger a war against France and the United Kingdom.
Given this situation, The United Kingdom and the Russian Empire liquidated its historic colonial differencespressured by France, which was ally of both powers. In addition, they looked with concern The growing German aggressiveness.
The 1907 Anglo-Russian agreement involved the distribution of the areas of influence of both countries in Central Asia. Although a final alliance was not signed, The foundations of one of the sides of the First World War were placed. In Germany, the feeling of “fence” was increasing.
The Triple Entente (1907)
The triple entente was the Coalition made up of the Franco-Rusa Alliance of 1893, the Cordiale Franco-Britanian entente in 1904 and the Anglo-Ruso Agreement of 1907.
The new German world policy initiated by Guillermo II in 1890 got three powers that had important differences (the United Kingdom, Russia and France) will approach and end up joining in front of the triple alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy).
In 1907 it was not yet an alliance strictly. The British, especially, tried to stay free of obligations. However, the successive crises that were marking the way to war The entente made the entertain.
The final crisis of the European summer of 1914, which broke out after the murder of Archduke Francisco Fernando in Sarajevo, demonstrated the operation of the Alliance, then led to the involvement of the three powers in World War I.
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References
- Balfour, MG (2023). William II. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Röhl, JCG (2014). Kaiser Wilhelm II: A Concise Life. Cambridge University Press.
- Stone, N. (2013). Brief History of World War I. Ariel.
- Stürmer, M. (2004). The German Empire (1870-1919). Mondadori.
