Weltpolitik: what it was and its characteristics

We explain what Weltpolitik was and what consequences it had on the system of alliances that led to the First World War.

Wilhelm II’s Weltpolitik implied an aggressive foreign policy for Germany.

What was Weltpolitik?

The German term Weltpolitik (“world politics”) designates The foreign policy initiated by Kaiser Wilhelm II upon ascending to the throne of the German Empire in 1888.

Unlike Realpolitik (“realistic politics”) promoted by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who sought a balance of power through diplomacy in Europe, Weltpolitik aimed to achieve German hegemony in the world through weapons development and political expansion.

One of the main consequences of Weltpolitik was the naval competition between Germany and the United Kingdom. Weltpolitik also stimulated the formation of alliances against the growing German powermainly between France, the United Kingdom and the Russian Empire. This process shaped the two groups of countries that fought in the First World War (1914-1918).

Emperor William II and Weltpolitik

In 1888, after the death of William I, king of Prussia and first emperor (kaiser) of Germany, his son, Frederick III, acceded to the throne of the German Empire. However, he died after three months due to illness and was succeeded by his son, William II, who was only twenty-nine years old.

Wilhelm I had appointed Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor of Germany.who had pursued a peaceful foreign policy in order to maintain a balance in Europe and consolidate Germany’s position. This trend was called Realpolitik (“realistic policy”), as it responded to pragmatic and moderate criteria. When Wilhelm II acceded to the German throne, Bismarck was forced to abdicate in 1890..

After removing Bismarck from the chancellery, William II launched the construction of German world hegemonywhich received the name Weltpolitik (“world politics”).

Consequences of Weltpolitik

In the short term, Weltpolitik had three consequences:

The estrangement of Germany and Russiasince William II decided not to renew in 1890 the Reinsurance Treaty that guaranteed the neutrality of each empire in the event of war with another power (this decision led to Russia’s rapprochement with France).

Germany’s growing confrontation with the United Kingdomcaused by economic competition and German shipbuilding plans.

The alliance building to deal with growing German aggressiveness (these agreements eventually formed the Triple Entente in 1907):

• the Franco-Russian alliance of 1893
• the Franco-British Entente Cordiale of 1904
• the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907.

Alliance politics in the Weltpolitik years

The Triple Alliance (1882)

The Triple Alliance, formed during the government of Otto von Bismarck, survived into the years of Weltpolitik.

Before the accession of William II to the throne and the introduction of Weltpolitik, the 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 both the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire at the same time, since they were at odds in the Balkans. Bismarck then found in Italy an ally against France.

On the one hand, Bismarck believed that his main diplomatic objective was to maintain the isolation of France. On the other hand, the Italian government believed that, by joining the Triple Alliance and associating itself with Germany, it had an open path to great power status. Furthermore, the Italian government was unhappy with the French attitude towards its colonial aspirations in Tunisia, since France had 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 left the Triple Alliance.

The Franco-Russian alliance (1893)

For a long time, the profound difference between the political regimes of France and Russia prevented the creation of an alliance. between the two. Tsar Alexander III, representative of the last autocracy in Europe, claimed to feel contempt for the French republican system.

However, the aggressive policy initiated by Wilhelm II and his 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, 1892.although it came into force the following year and was publicly known in 1895.

This alliance It meant the definitive end of the diplomatic systems designed by Bismarck and allowed France to emerge from its isolation.

The Franco-British Entente Cordiale (1904)

Thanks to its economic, naval and colonial hegemony, the United Kingdom had maintained for decades what was called “splendid isolation”. However, German Weltpolitik was such a challenge that it forced the British government to seek alliances with other powers..

On the other hand, the French Foreign Minister, Théophile Delcassé, began an active campaign in favour of a Franco-British alliance.

The signature of cordial understanding (or Entente Cordiale) between France and the United Kingdom It meant a rapprochement based on the solution of their colonial disputes, which had been on the verge of leading both countries to war in 1898. The aggressiveness of the German Weltpolitik had promoted the alliance between the United Kingdom and France.

The Anglo-Russian agreement (1907)

During the first Moroccan crisis, the German Empire intervened against French interests in Morocco, and this nearly triggered a war against France and the United Kingdom.

In this situation, The United Kingdom and the Russian Empire settled their historical colonial differences, pressured by France, which was an ally of both powers. Furthermore, they looked with concern Germany’s growing aggressiveness.

The Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907 involved the division of the areas of influence of both countries in Central Asia. Although a definitive alliance was not signed, the foundations of one of the sides of the First World War were laid. In Germany, the feeling of “encirclement” was increasing.

The Triple Entente (1907)

The Triple Entente was coalition made up of the Franco-Russian alliance of 1893, the Franco-British Entente Cordiale of 1904 and the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907.

The new German world policy initiated by Wilhelm II in 1890 brought three powers that had significant differences between them (the United Kingdom, Russia and France) closer together and eventually united in the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy).

In 1907, it was not yet an alliance in the strict sense of the word. The British, in particular, tried to remain free of obligations. However, successive crises that were marking the path to war made the Entente more and more solid.

The final crisis of the European summer of 1914, which erupted after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, demonstrated the functioning of the alliance, since led to the involvement of the three powers in the First World War.

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References

• Balfour, M.G. (2023). William II. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/
• Röhl, J.C.G. (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.