German Foreign Relations Change in Foreign Policy - "After the economic recessions of 1873 and 1882, a consensus emerged in favor of foreign trade and the acquisition of colonies as a response to German overproduction." – Abrams LynnColonial politics: diverting destabilizing energies at home into enthusiasm for adventure and expansion abroad. [called social-imperialism, was followed more deliberately by William II and Caprivias, internal tensions became more dangerous after 1890] "distorting the revolutionary elements towards imperialism, in order to turn the nation's gaze abroad and carry its feelings on common ground" - Abrams Lynn Imperialism as a safety valve, protecting Germany from a socialist revolution “My map of Africa is in Europe” - Bismarck Protectorates: Cameroon, Togoland, South West Africa, East Africa, one or two in PacificEconomic groups: Colonial Union, German Colonization SocietyHowever: Germany did not witness spontaneous explosions of enthusiasm for the colonies, as happened in Great Britain, Bismarck liked to present himself as an honest broker: Germany was now firmly established as an actor, he wished to consolidate his position [Congress of Berlin 1878, Russians harbored a grudge over lack of support from Germany] Bismarck's Objectives - Attempt to maintain European peace - essential to the Empire's security and commercial prosperity - Prevent France from mounting a serious challenge to the new Empire - Avoid a two-front war - Avoid having to make a choice between Austria, Hungary and Russia - Germany is in a tight spot with a three-to-two majority in any alliance... ...middle of paper......[IMAGE]Late 1890s- Imperial foreign policy took center stage- The Anglo-French Entente was signed in 1904- The Bismarckian alliance system had been dismantled of five years, Germany found itself isolated, surrounded by potentially hostile powers. Kaiser - Influenced by Von Tirpitz (seized Kiao Chow in 1897, alienated Russia, embarked on naval policy in 1898 Naval Bill) Fischer and Wehler: Germany was to blame Wehler emphasized the primacy of national politics in the development of foreign policy and proposed that the anachronistic character of the Second Empire was responsible for the descent into war. In 1914 war was the only and final means by which ruling elites could seek to maintain their power against the threat of new social forces, a 'flight forward'” – Abrams Lynn