COMPLETION OF THE "SECOND WAVE" IN THE INDUSTRIALIZATION: RISE OF GERMANY AND U.S. ON DECREASE OF ENGLAND.
The different regimes and ideologies: autocratic or SEMIAUTOCRATICOS, PARLIAMENT TO VOTE BY, Nationalism, Liberalism, Marxism.
Geostrategy: COLONIAL EMPIRES, FRONTIERS IN EUROPE. "BALANCE", rivalries and diplomatic alliances.
1890, the traditional industrial and economic supremacy of Britain was coming to an end. Oceanic pioneer of commercial capitalism, at least since the seventeenth century, had also been the birthplace of the industrialization process in the late eighteenth century, relying on the use of coal as an energy source of the steam engine and cast iron applications in improved and cheaper types of steel. By 1850 England was arguably the world's economic hub, increasing its population from 12 million 35 million 1800 to 1850.
TABLE. IRON PRODUCTION TO 1870. ( Thousands of tonnes.)
England 61 Germany 14 France 12
3
RUSSIA SPAIN 0.5
In This first wave industrialized the rest of Europe stayed in a more secondary role, with "islands" of industrial growth coupled with commercial farming areas, such as cases of Lille, Paris and Lyon in France, and Essen and Leipzig in Germany-Prussia. Europe came to 270 million by mid-nineteenth century.
However, the process of growth and diversification of economic sectors remained influenced by different ideological traditions of each country, which tended to accelerate or slow down, but never completely rejected. The theories of Weber on the Protestant work ethic and capitalism as catalysts can be considered valid in the first phase industrialized but not since 1860, when the diffusion and imitation of the British techniques become widespread, and begins to be overcome in some countries with the second wave industrial.
TABLE. EUROPEAN STOCKS TO 1910 (in millions)
Britain 46 Germany 65
France 39 Russia 122
Austria 50 Spain 20
Italy 34
social model "ideal" until 1914, matured in its expression purest in Victorian England was based on:
paternal authority
Consciousness standards
The bourgeois family (as mostly Protestant)
This model will enzalzado and harassed same until the First World War, although disturbed by the implications of the latter (for example, moral sexual), is visible even today as the main constituent of Western social fabric. Liberalism is adapted to the "era of the masses" that began in 1850. There was a breakdown of classical liberalism based on free trade, practiced religion in moderation, strong central state (national army and public education system based on census suffrage), economic freedom and respect for admitting some civil rights. one hand conservative parties appeared encompassing the right liberal conservative clerical allies (that they form their own parties Catholics or Democrats extended among the middle class and peasants, with an egalitarian conception of Christian origin). Moreover arise liberal "radicals" (sometimes called "radical" to dry), anticlerical, staunch capitalists with a focus on economic individualism, as opposed to the paternalism of the conservative, sometimes anti-socialist, but a covenant with them sometimes for political tactics. This characterization, somewhat contrived, describes in their respective lobbies. Liberals of various stamp is multiplied since the eighteenth century merchant protocapitalismo organizing their ideology and demands from the Enlightenment or even earlier (English case). Phenomenon observable throughout Europe was the proliferation of various parliamentary assemblies under the influence of leading politicians (in the late nineteenth century Bismarck in the Reichstag, Chamberlain in the British Parliament, etc).
rivals and enemies of liberalism were introduced in legislatures liberal or opposed it from outside. A strictly non-political level, unionism was a force with the friction that existed (in fact, were either banned or restricted in their activities), especially with the online class unions revolutionary parties. Unless there were difficulties with the union type, seeking improvements in conditions concrete (eg Catholic unions under the social theory of Pope Leo XIII and his encyclical "Rerum Novarum" of 1891)
highlighted in the political arena especially anarchist movements (less structured) and Marxist parties grouped around the First International, based in materialism "scientific", coupled with aggressive advertising and seeking change through revolution (cult of violence as an engine of change.) Some, like the Communists (not yet named so in 1914, the term was adopted in 1917) came to advocate (and later to implement) the removal or extermination of entire social classes or opposition ("social engineering", euphemistically). However most socialists or social democrats chose to operate within the system as extending the franchise. They demanded more nationalization (nationalization) and more taxes on the wealthy. Were established in France between 1879-83, in Germany since 1875 (although with limited rights until 1890), under various labels: socialists, workers or labor although these roots were not Marxist, but came from the evolution of the old English Chartism .
The phenomenon of nationalism occupies a special place of ideology, its capacity to penetrate and merge with other political principles in a cross, being able to rise above them and identify with the broader framework of organization, with the "national interest" that is above the daily political struggle . Nationalism asserts the existence of human communities whose members share inside common cultural and ethnic traits, with a history rich historical peculiar, variable according to each nation. Nationalism as an idea is ancient, but was updated during the XVIII-XIX, at the beginning especially by liberals, with more explicit language and doctrine, equal value is enhanced within a monolithic social-national conviertío As an alternative to egalitarianism and leftist revolutionaries often faced just these.
We can distinguish two major formulations of nationalism in early twentieth century: The major nationalities of which have a tradition of organized state. When the country was strong and prosperous, expansive adquierría nuance in the international arena is the case of "great powers " such as France, Germany or England. Later other nations were relatively consolidated but less affluent or simply smaller in extensión, era el caso de Italia, España, u Holanda.
En segundo lugar contemplamos a las nacionalidades emergentes , que no tenían un estado y solían estar englobadas en los imperios dinásticos multinacionales como el turco, el austro-húngaro o el ruso, precisamente socavados por esos nacionalismos. En otros casos habían alcanzado su estado muy recientemente. Su nacionalismo, al no contar con una base material organizada ( es decir un estado con un espacio territorial claramente delimitado ) tenía rasgos agresivos y reividicativos; el caso mas paradigmático entre 1900-1914 es el de los Balcanes, con las nacionalidades eslavas emancipadas del imperio otomano que rivalizaban by including border areas, suffered from problems with the minority who did not belong to the majority nationality or in the past faced a multinational empire, and Servia against Austria-Hungary. Is precisely the crisis between the trigger for World War I in July 1914.
occupies an important role in the outlook for 1900-1914 the network of alliances that set the major powers. German ambitions, both within Europe and beyond, the ideas of a large overseas empire, inspired by the recent allocation of Africa, where Germany takes little aspiring to increase their presence, those ambitions remain viable only if it was available large fleet of war to support it seduced the Kaiser Wilhelm II and many political and military circles. There was a rectification of diplomatic positions. The grievances were playing their role thinning border relations with another nation: Alsace-Lorraine, Dalmatia, Turkish Straits, Luxembourg ... clash between ideologies and pan-Slavic Pan-Germans ... The Franco-Russian alliance formalized between 1891-96, guidance proeslava anti-German and England is reinforced when he approached her after some hesitation, angry with Germany for naval expansion of this and the support they gave the Germans a rebel Boers of South Africa in 1899 (according to France in April 1904 Once passed the incident Fashoda in the Sudan in 1898, according to Russia in August 1907), but not llegarron to establish a formal aid commitment, preserving some freedom of maneuver. Germany in turn reinforces the approach to Austria-Hungary (now in force since October 1879), anti-Russian character and pan-German. The accession of Italy to laTriple Alliance (1882) would prove ineffective in 1914 and ending in a change sides in 1915.
Servia was strongly supported by Russia and the pan-Slavic movement of opinion, both in their struggle against Ottoman Turkish Empire in the First Balkan War (1912) as against Austria-Hungary and the annexation is made the former province Turkish Bosnia in 1908. Bosnia had a large Serb population, 45%, combined with eslavomusulmanes and Croats. Other Balkan states were courted themselves or sought the patronage of the great powers, was the changing position of Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania, reflecting their own internal divisions on foreign policy. The rest of Europe (Scandinavia, Spain, Holland, etc) remained paragraphs in this game of alliances.
German military strategy for conflict with the Franco-Russian Entente was based on a quick operation assault on France and the capture of the French northeast and the valley of the Seine, including the capital Paris destroying French army in the process, all in a month and a half, committing 88% of German troops and with the slow Russian mobilization and then a longer campaign against Russia after the liquidation of the situation in the west. The proposal was provided by the German chief of staff until 1905, Alfred von Schlieffen. The changes produced by the railway development (critical at that time to transport troops and equipment) in the border regions of France and Russia and the attitude of England when the hour of truth would upset this approach when he took the practice over 9 years Later, in August 1914. MAP. Schlieffen Plan
The strategy devised by the French and Russians had evolved well did the course of the offensive by an attack quickly on the coveted French Alsace-Lorraine, with its main branches north and south of Metz committing 5 French armies between Belfort and Hirson (the "Plan XVII " tuned in May 1913) and later attack the Russians due to its lower density rail on M (statement of protest) +15, on Prussia Eastern and low Vistula, called against the armies of the Northwest 1 st and 2 nd in spearhead, then threatening Berlin. Based on the projections of "Plan 19 modified which ran from the Russians since June 1912, whose variant" A "would be that was implemented about the moment of truth in 1914, also provides for the deployment of 45 powerful hosts divisions 3, 4 and 5 were clustered into the front of the west against Austria-Hungary. Russian intentions were explicit: "Driving the offensive against Germany and Austria-Hungary with the aim of moving the war on its territory." They were certainly optimistic plans overestimated their strength ... however, between the French military experts considered the possibility of a large German involvement Belgium (as well, did so with little support, General Michel, vice president of the Supreme War Council), but it ended uncomfortable Reverted hypothesis.
Germany, supported by organizational and Prussian military tradition, for its potential in metallurgy and chemical industry (manufacture key equipment for war) in those years reached a quality and quantity formidable military power. And from that power the hope of a victory, especially if, as most analysts believed the military, are waging intense campaigns short war but resolute. It would be another wrong assumption.
The British without being formally committed, the possibility of intervention based on supporting nimbly to France with a small but trained army, hardened colonial wars, especially in its vast fleet of war, the world's largest, which should cut German foreign trade important to isolate the Germanic metropolis of its colonies, while ensuring supplies of the Entente. This blocking strategy will not reach its objectives in a short war. But in a fight to the medium and long term could be decisive.
TABLE. MILITARY FORCES IN AUGUST OF 1914
LAND FORCES OF THE CENTRAL EMPIRES:
Germany: 87 divisions of infantry and 11 cavalry. Aimed at 78 West and East 9. Already at war would be transferred in August 1914 4 Divion East to reinforce the eastern device. Of the 74 available in the West, most would be assigned to I and II armies. There were seven German armies organized in the West. The Eighth Army would be on the defensive in East Prussia against the Russians.
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY: 52 divisions
TOTAL: over a million men in 150 divisions.
OF THE ALLIED FORCES LAND O ENTENTE:
England + France + Belgium : 83 divisions, 11 of which are English (125,000 men), to be transported to France.
RUSSIA: some 90 divisions of infantry and a dozen horsemen.
SERVIA: 11 divisions
TOTAL: about 180 divisions with 2 million men.
NAVAL FORCES CENTRAL EMPIRES:
GERMANY : 40 battleships, of which 15 were "dreadnoughts" modern, 25 models little military value outdated battle +4 +50 cuceros light cruisers. Fleet concentrated in the North Sea and the Baltic, except a few scattered vessels in the colonies (Pacific Fleet) or transit through the Mediterranean, unable to return to the metropolis due to the British blockade.
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY 4 battleships, "Dreadnought", based on the Adriatic Sea, were quickly blocked in by the Italians and other allies (Otranto channel closure).
TURKEY: 3 armored old pre-"dreadnought" +2 cruises +8 light destroyers. Based in Istanbul, were reinforced by the incorporation of the battle cruiser "Goeben" and a German light cruiser.
ALLIED NAVAL FORCES:
GREAT BRITAIN: 64 battleships, of which 24 were armored modern "dreadnoughts" in Scapa Flow (North Sea) and 4 in the oceans, models and other pre-dreadnought battleships +10 +108 light cruisers. Some of them were based on the British overseas colonies around the world, and would be moved to the North Sea after starting the fight. 2 modern battleships, the "Erin" and "Agincourt" were delivered to the "Home Fleet" in August and September 1914.
France : 21 battleships, most outdated +30 light cruisers. Concentrated in the Mediterranean.
RUSSIA: Divided into the Black Sea Fleet and the Baltic, was weakened by the lack of communication between the two due to German and Turkish blockade exerted by the Danish straits and the Bosphorus. Black Sea fleet was based in Odessa and Sevastopol: 5 battleships pre-"dreadnought" +2 light cruisers. In 1915 he added 2 "Dreadnought." Baltic Fleet, based in Krondstadt: 4 +4 light cruisers battleships obsolete. It I added 4 modern battleships in 1915-16
