How did European states, which had developed steadily and actively cooperated with each other throughout the nineteenth century, get involved in the First World War? As a result of changes in the map of Europe, the balance of power has changed, two new centers of gravity have appeared - Germany and Italy. When the British, French and other nations seized colonies in Africa and Asia, these countries simply did not exist. It is customary to say that they were late to the division of the colonial pie, which means that they were deprived of the opportunity to take advantage of the bonuses and privileges that the possession of African colonies promised. It cannot be said that the Germans and Italians were left completely without the territories of the third world countries, but first things first. The aggravation of international relations at the beginning of the 20th century was not sudden and unexpected.
Colonial division of Africa
Complete the task"Characterize the features of international relations at the beginning of the 20th century" by indicating just a few theses: the growing contradictions between the ruling states and the completion of the division of the world. This division later proved to be untenable, so another distribution of spheres of influence took place, which was accompanied by the largest military conflicts in the history of mankind. It all started with the colonial division of Africa - the global competition of a number of imperialist states for research and military operations aimed ultimately at capturing new territories.
Such activities have taken place before, but the most intense competition unfolded after the Berlin Conference, held in 1885. The distribution of possessions on the Black Continent culminated in the incident that brought France and Great Britain to the brink of war in 1898. In 1902, European states completely controlled already 90% of Africa. South of the Sahara, only Ethiopia, which defended its independence from Italy, and Liberia, patronized by the United States, remained independent. At the beginning of the 20th century, the young Italian state also joined the struggle for Africa.
Causes of the crisis in international relations
A feature of international relations at the beginning of the 20th century is the global crisis and the growing contradictions. Nationalist currents intensified, local wars and armed clashes took place almost continuously,which stimulated the arms race and eventually led the world to the First World War. Military conflicts between leading countries for dominance in Europe became especially dangerous. Italy was attracted by the possessions of the weakening Ottoman Empire, the territory of the Horn of Africa, on which Libya and Somalia were located - weak sultanates. The German Empire pursued an active offensive foreign policy, military construction and was distinguished by imperialist ambitions. In short, international relations at the beginning of the 20th century were characterized by growing contradictions and tensions.
Creation of the Triple Alliance
The beginning of the division of Europe was laid by the Tripartite Alliance, founded in 1882. The military-political alliance of Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary played an exceptional role in the preparation and unleashing of the First World War, and therefore in general in international relations at the beginning of the 20th century. The main organizers of the bloc were Austria-Hungary and Germany, who entered into a military alliance back in 1879. In 1882, together with Italy, the countries pledged not to take part in any agreements against one of the members of the union, to consult on economic and political issues, and to provide mutual support. The policy of the Triple Alliance was characterized by the struggle for colonies.
Intensification of Anglo-German contradictions
After the resignation of Otto von Bismarck and the coronation of German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1888, Germany became more active in international politics. intensifiedthe economic and military power of the country, the active construction of the fleet began, and the ruling circles embarked on the path of a large-scale redistribution of the map of Europe, Africa and Asia in their favor. This did not please the British government. London could not allow the redivision of the world. In addition, the British Empire depended on maritime trade, so the strengthening of the German fleet posed a threat to the British maritime hegemony. Until the end of the nineteenth century, the British government continued to adhere to the policy of "brilliant isolation", but the increasingly difficult political situation in Europe pushed London to actively search for reliable allies.
Creation of the Entente military-political bloc
Russian-German international relations at the beginning of the 20th century were steadily deteriorating, albeit at a slow pace. France, which sought to overcome isolation, tried to take advantage of the growing tension. Otto von Bismarck closed the tsarist government's access to the German money market in an attempt to put economic pressure on Russia. Then tsarist Russia turned to France with a request for money loans. Rapprochement with the French was facilitated by the fact that there were no significant disagreements between the countries on political issues and common colonial problems. The rapprochement of states was documented in the early nineties of the XIX century, when first a consultative pact was signed, and then a secret convention on joint actions in cases of war with Germany.
The emergence of the Franco-Russian alliance is notstabilized the situation in Europe. International relations in the early 20th century continued to be characterized by considerable tension. The real conclusion of an alliance between Russia and France only intensified the rivalry between the blocs. The achieved balance turned out to be extremely unstable, therefore, both the Franco-Russian alliance and the Tripartite sought to attract new allies to their side. The next in line was the UK, which was forced to rethink the concept of "brilliant isolation". As a result, in 1904, a Franco-English agreement was signed on the division of spheres of influence on the Black Continent. This is how the Entente was formed.
Foreign policy of Russia in the early twentieth century
The Russian Empire at the beginning of the twentieth century remained a powerful state with significant authority. The country's foreign policy was determined by its geographical position, strategic, geopolitical and economic interests. However, there were many contradictions in the choice of allies and the definition of priority areas of foreign policy. International relations at the beginning of the 20th century in Russia occupied the minds of the ruling elite, but Nicholas II showed inconsistency, and some officials did not understand the danger of armed conflicts at all.
International crises and conflicts
The main conflict of the early twentieth century, which involved thirty-eight of the fifty independent states that existed at that time, is the First World War. But apart from that, international relations in the early 20centuries are characterized by multiple local conflicts and fairly large-scale hostilities. It all started at the end of the 19th century: in 1894-1895, the war between China and Japan led to the capture of a number of Chinese territories by the enemy; in 1898, as a result of the Spanish-American war (and this is the first war for the redivision of the world), the islands of Guam and Puerto Rico, former Spanish possessions, ended up in the hands of the Americans, and Cuba was actually proclaimed independent, but fell under the protectorate of the United States; in 1899-1902, following the results of the Anglo-Boer War (the Boers are the descendants of German and French settlers in the south of the African continent), Great Britain captured two republics in South Africa, which were rich in gold and diamonds.
The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was the first challenge in the 20th century for the fading Russian Empire. Japan won and received part of Sakhalin, as well as territories leased in Northeast China. In the autumn of 1905, Japan also imposed protection on Korea, and five years later Korea became Japanese possessions. In 1905-1906, a conflict broke out between Great Britain, France and Germany for dominance in Morocco. The country fell under the influence of France, Spain managed to partially occupy the territory. Many conflicts were connected with the countries of the Balkan Peninsula. So, in 1908-1909, Austria-Hungary annexed Herzegovina and Bosnia, occupied by its troops. In 1911, the second Moroccan crisis arose, in 1911 - the war between Italy and Turkey, in 1912-1913 - two Balkan wars.
Contradictions before World War I
All the events taking place in the world became the causes of the bloody First World War. The British Empire remembered German support for the Boers in 1899-1902 and did not intend to watch German expansion into those areas that it considered “its own”. Great Britain waged a trade and economic war (undeclared) against Germany, actively prepared for possible military operations at sea, abandoned the "brilliant isolation" and joined the anti-German bloc of states.
France in international relations at the beginning of the 20th century also sought to rehabilitate itself after the defeat inflicted by Germany in the hostilities of 1870, intended to return Lorraine and Alsace, feared new aggression from Germany, wished to preserve its colonies in Africa and carried losses in traditional markets for products due to competing German products. Russia claimed free access to the Mediterranean Sea, opposed Austrian penetration into the Balkan Peninsula and German hegemony in Europe, insisted on its exclusive right to all Slavic peoples (including Serbs and Bulgarians).
The newly formed Serbia sought to establish itself as the leader of the peoples of the Balkan Peninsula and form Yugoslavia. In addition, the country unofficially supported the nationalists who fought against Turkey and Austria-Hungary, that is, it interfered in the domestic affairs of other countries. Bulgaria was also not aliendesire to establish itself as a leader. Bulgaria also sought to regain lost territories and acquire new ones. Nearby, the Poles, who did not have a national state, sought to gain independence.
Goals and aspirations of the Triple Alliance
The German Empire sought complete dominance in the Old World. The country claimed equal rights in the possessions of other European states, because it joined the struggle for colonial lands only after 1871. In addition, the Entente did not equalize forces, but only qualified by the German government as an attempt to undermine the growing power of Germany. Austria-Hungary at the beginning of the 20th century turned out to be a constant hotbed of instability in the Old World, opposed Russia and sought to keep the previously captured Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ottoman Empire wanted to regain territories lost in the Balkan Wars. Perhaps this would help the empire survive.
International trade at the beginning of the 20th century
International trade relations before the beginning of the 20th century and into the new century fully reflected the cooperation and conflicts between countries. From 1900 to 1914, the volume of trade increased by almost a hundred times. This was facilitated by the general revival, the arms race, the distribution of zones of influence and the search for reliable allies by countries. The decisive positions were taken by large monopolies, which controlled sales both in the domestic and foreign markets, but the rapid growth of foreign trade turnover will be observed a little later - insecond half of the twentieth century. The international relations of the 20th century had a significant impact on these processes.
