Russians were in posession of great weapons making their army more powerful . It enabled the explorers and soldiers to expand and tighten up their territories in the Ural mountains and in the Northern India and China.
Social beliefs
Europeans felt they had a duty to civilise and educate the non-European natives. People believed that laws of evolution should be applied for all races (equality). All races were (and still are) different economically and in their level of civilisation. All the coloured people were positioned below the level of civilisation of other races, so Europeans felt they had to help and teach the less fortunate peoples of the world. Of course it wasn’t only Europeans ideas. There were other Europeans that were more selfish who wanted power.
It was a real struggle for all the countries to colonise as much territory as possible, in order to stay in the ranks of the great powers of the world. It was a way to distinguish the ‘living nations’ from ‘dying nations’.
Being a first-rate power needed a large territorial base.
Political factors: prestige and national pride
States got modernised and industrialised so the people in urban areas received increased years of elementary education. As the spread of literacy was imposed, the rise of popular press and a growth in the market for adventure and travel books appeared. This popular press dramatised rivalries and incidents. Before many historians said that the imperial expansion was a projection of nationalism beyond the boundaries of Europe.
Such popular pressures made a considerable influence on governments and increasingly shaped their expansionist colonial and trade policies.
In 1871 Germany defeats France in the Franco-Prussian war. France saw both united Germany and an Italian state with Rome as its capital.
An American Historian, Profesor Hayes, argued in A Generation of Materialism (1871-1900) that the new imperialism was a nationalistic phenomenon. It created a very powerful Germany and a united Italy, which carried Russia out of sight of Constantinople, and left England fearful and France eclipsed.
The French government was encouraged by Bismarck to expand in north and west Africa because (as Prime Minister Gambetta declared) ‘France is recovering her position as a great power and to avoid officers getting officers under the command of Boulanger who wanted absolutely revenge against Germany in Europe.
Historian A. J. P. Taylor says that Bismarck colonial claims/disputes were used to increase Anglo-French rivalry and at the same time promote the possibility of a Franco-German entente on colonial issues.Other historians thought that Bismarck’s bid for colonies was a respones to a variety of domestic pressures.
Political factors: the challenge of Germany
The entry of Germany into the colonial arena in the period 1884—5 injected a new element of rivalry. European countries wanted more territories.
People thought Bismarck’s attitude was strange, as he said in 1881 that ‘ As long as I am Imperial Chancellor we shall not pursue a colonial policy’ and then in 1884 he launches a bid for colonies. He was maybe making a plot.
People shared Taylor’s view s that Bismarck was seeking to protect Germany’s position in Europe and his alliance system.
The occupation of Egypt in 1882 by Britain made it possible to use consequent Anglo-French hostility to achieve three subjects :
- issue warnings to Britain
- extend the isolation of France
- to further Franco-German accord
Historians argue that domestic pressures explain Bismarck’s entry into the colonial field. German Reichstag elections were approaching and claims to colonial spoils in Africa and Asia. In 1884 Bismarck adopted a colonial policy called ‘social imperialism’ policy. It was aiming to preserve the supremacy of the ruling elites (traditional) and their authoritarian power structure (in Germany).
In 1890 Herbet, the son of Bismarck said that when the Germans started colonial policy they had to face the long reign of the Crown Prince when the English influence was predominating. In order to stop that , they had to launch colonial policy in order to produce conflicts with England at any moment.
After the fall of Bismarck’s power in 1890 , there was a growing desire in Germany to build on them. Germany made many achievements and a great economic expansion which turned her into a strong commercial competitor across the world and the governments were keen to put this to a more concrete advantage.
The decline of British imperial power
Historians saw the scrambles for Africa and Asia as a result of the decline in Britain’s ability to protect the economic relationships which she had made in the past. Britain had used her naval and military strengh for new commercial opportunities and safeguarded trade routes , which is why it was a powerful supporter of free trade policies. Britain’s worldwide supremacy was challenged :navally, comercially, technologically. In 1884 Britain accepted the Franco-German demands for an international conference which marked the end of British paramountcy but soon after there was many rival claims for the African territory. Britain was in control of 70 % of China’s external trade but she was increasingly thrown on the defensive by the activities of France and Germany, and the increasing challenges of Russia and Japan.
Strategic motives
In the domain of strategic motives , Britain’s interest in the stable regime of Egypt was intensified by the construction of the Suez Canal which then led to the occupation of the country in 1882. This made a ‘chain reaction’ of rivalries and of annexations which spread to west Africa and further south. Britain really wanted to keep South Africa to safeguard the naval base and sea routes and east Africa for strategic reasons only.
Many historians have argued that economic imperialism did increase competition after 1870 and inflame international rivalries. The opposing view has been put forward that colonial disputes acted as a ‘safety valve’ for European rivalries, rather than intensifying them, and as the powers applicate their ambitions on Africa or Asia , the likelihood of a serious war diminished .France, Russia, Britain in the early 20th century , indeed at that moment it was the consequent emergence of the ‘Triple Entente’ between those countries that increased the danger for war because the Germans got alarmed.
Conclusion
I think that this chapter highlights the many different elements which were involved in the European expansion of Africa after 1870. There were undoubtedly major forces at work which enabled a handful of powers to divide up so much of the globe by 1900. The results of this late 19th imperialism profoundly influenced international relations in the 20th century and at the same time increased rivality between the great powers . To me, all of this was the result of the first World War which was completely inevitable. People should have seen war coming as the countries were in a struggle for colonial expansion in Africa.
