Imperalism: The Main Cause of World War I

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Imperialism: The Main Cause of World War I
Imperialism is a system in which a considerably powerful country exploits and governs other states. It is also a country’s promotion, policy or practice of expanding its dominion and power particularly by obtaining other turfs directly or acquiring economic and political control over other nations (Hobson 8). Imperialism entails the use of power such as the use of military force or some other simpler ways. As a result, the practice is often thought to be ethically wrong, and global propaganda primarily employs the term when discrediting or denouncing a foreign policy by their opponents. A majority of historical and contemporary documentations concur that the existence of imperialism pressures nearly two decades before the onset of the World War I played a significant role. These forces allegedly contributed to the diplomatic constellation leading to the war. This paper argues the extent in which imperialism contributed to the start of the First World War.
The existence of imperialism dates back centuries before the onset of World War I. Imperial rivalry and imperialism presented both an environment and cause for the First World War. Imperialism involves an asymmetrical correlation, usually in a structure of an empire, enforced on other populations and nations that result to the dominance and subordination of turfs, cultures, and economies. This system results in the most powerful state controlling and exploiting one or more colonies that are less potent.

In a majority of instances, the imperial country, euphemistically known as the “mother state,” creates dominion over its colonies through intimidation. For example, the sovereign nation may employ political pressure, penetration and seizure, battle and military invasion. Immediately the powerful state conquers the weaker one; the state claims the obtained territory as its colony. The imperial country, political associates or a puppet government are usually the ones that govern and administers the obtained colonies. In most cases, the sovereign nation deploys its military to the colonized states to ensure order, to curb disagreements and rebellion as well as to prevent imperial opponents. The colonized countries may have geopolitical benefits or military; however, their chief purpose is economic in which their primary purpose of existence is the benefit and enhance the imperial power. In a majority of instances, the goal entails supplying the sovereign state with precious metal among other resources such as rubber, timber, food grains among other foodstuffs. Additionally, colonized countries tend also to provide cheap or free labor, trading ports, and farming land to their colonizers.
Before the eruption of the First World War, Hamilton points out that the Great Britain was the globe’s largest, wealthiest as well as the leading imperial power (27). The British Empire eminently had its presence in a quarter of the world’s population and land. The country’s late 1800s colonial possessions involved India, Canada, Burma, New Zealand, Austria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Egypt, and Rhodesia. Other regions included Caribbean and Pacific Islands and other parts of Africa. While Britain acquired a majority of these colonies with little to no effort, some involved much effort thus taking more time, energy and involved bloodshed. For instance, the possession of South Africa by the British colony was after engagement in dreadful battles against Boers, who were White agriculturalist pioneers of Dutch origin and Shaka Zulus, the South African native tribes. The British imperialism aimed at upholding as well as extending business, the trade of produced merchandise and the importation of raw materials. The country’s powerful navy which was recognized as the largest around the globe and a convoy of commercial vessels reinforced its imperial power.
France, the nearest neighbor to Britain, was another significant imperial power. The country’s royal possession involved a few colonies in the North-West and West Africa and Indochina entailing Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Another supreme power was Germany whose holdings included New Guinea, Shandong, a Chinese province, and a few colonies in South-West and Central parts of Africa (Hamilton 27). Other German holdings included Samoa among other Pacific islands. Another power was the Spanish Empire possessions involved the Philippines and most of the South American regions, although the state’s imperial strength begun declining by the early 20th century. Other European powers entailed Austria-Hungary, Russia, and the Ottoman sultanate.
Russia’s imperial power possession included Poland, Finland and various central areas in Asia. In efforts to expand its imperial power to northern China and Korea, the country engaged in a battle with Japan between 1904 and 1905, which it eventually lost. Also, the United States participated, to some level, with empire establishment, especially toward the end of the 19th century, in spite of the state’s criticism of the European imperialism. Other imperial powers of the early 20th century included Italy, Belgium, Holland, the United States of America, and Portugal. The increased scramble for the acquisition of more colonies by imperial powers was persistent dilemma before the First World War. The period before the war saw increased industrialization which set a foundation for imperialism due to efforts to obtain more land and resources to expand wealth (Barth 3). Nevertheless, it is important noting that not all occurrences that belong to the imperialistic group concerned governing other nations, they, however, contributed to the war. In fact, imperialistic engagements acted as the basis of the First World War causes.
Among the European countries, imperialism happened at the verge of industrialization. As the European nations were at the height of discovering the importance of large-scale production and sciences through industrialization, this status led to competitions and demand for extra land and agricultural products. As a result, these occurrences resulted in the formation of increased pressures necessary for the initiation of the First World War. For instance, Great Britain and Germany were two leading powerful states in Europe that relentlessly attempted to gain dominion over Asia and Africa, two regions that were pretty weak and susceptible. To emphasize this point, Sinclair, while quoting Roger Bruyelon says “invent globalization, extend around the entire globe their industrial and commercial power, and colonize at will African and Asian countries.” (472). However, many uprising and insurgencies by the natives as well as interferences amongst the two imperial powers and other powers, the two countries did not succeed entirely. In fact, they only managed to gain several colonies. Therefore, the lack of collaboration among European powers in the efforts to dominate and govern weaker nations for their resources instigated tensions. Ultimately, the increased pressures reached an extent where a war was inevitable as it was the only viable resort.
Imperialism was the basis that led to the formation of other contributors of the First World War. In fact, it is the tensions arising from colonialism that caused secret alliances between countries to form. Some of these alliances include the Triple Entente established in 1907 that constituted Russia, Britain, and France and intended to counter rising German threat Hamilton 19). The Triple Alliance involved of Italy, Germany and Austria-Hungary was created in 1882, in efforts to prevent Italy from forming an alliance with Russia (Hamilton 18). Other treaties included the Austro-Serbian Alliance, Anglo-Russian Entente, and the Franco-Russian Alliance (Hamilton 19). All these coalitions were a means to empower these imperial nations such that they protected their prospective turfs and acquired as many additional territories as they wished. As a result, these treaties instigated tensions and conflicts that laid the ground for the war. Additionally, militarism was another dynamic arising from pressures created by imperialism. Militarism involved the deployment of military forces and navies to prospective turfs as well as deterrence against interferences.
Imperial countries needed military power and intervention to win prospective territories as well as protect themselves from competition and interferences from other imperial powers. The strong alliances previously made engaged in the formation of unbeatable war arms due to fears of a possible impending battle (Hamilton 30). For example, British Empire designed a vessel, Dreadnought, intended to kill in efforts to demonstrate to the Germans that the country still possessed the sea, thus considerably increasing more pressure that was already mounting among the European states. Factors such as nationalism, however, participated in countering imperialism. For example, Hobson indicates that the attempts to raid China by European empires proved futile mainly due to the unity exhibited by Chinese people as well as assistance and interventions from other nations (12). Therefore, nationalism caused an uprising thus obstructing attempts by invading powers to extend dominion in these states. Additionally, nationalism caused rebellion by the natives, an action that challenged successful invasion by the supreme powers.
Some acts of imperialism include the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum to Serbia following the assassination of a to-be successor to the Austro-Hungarian throne by a Serbian nationalist (International University of Northwest n.p). As a result, the Austro-Hungary issued Serbia with an ultimatum meant to curb any publication designed to stir contempt or hatred against it or threatened the integrity of Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. More importantly, the ultimatum necessitated Serbia to relinquish every self-governing right and instead be ruled by Austro-Hungary. Nevertheless, the Russian-Serbia alliance was undisclosed to Austro-Hungary, thus introducing Russia into the tension and consequently made Austro-Hungary to seek help from Germany. Germany encouraged war as the viable solution to the disagreement (International University of Northwest n.p). This occurrence caused the expansion of harmful correlations leading to increased conflicts among many powerful empires.
Also, the formation of sea vessels was a form of imperialism since it resulted in the expansion of British naval powers in the sea both as a result of rising pressures as well as the need for further industrialization. Hamilton indicates that “imperialism justified the expansion of armies and navies” (16). The last example of imperialism as a significant cause of the First World War is the 1903 Berlin-Baghdad railroad built until shortly before 1914 (Barth 5). The railway connected Berlin to Baghdad, an area where Germany intended to institute a port to extend transactions. The rail threatened British imports and exports consequently offering the Germans with an economic dominion over Britain through business. Additionally, the Berlin-Baghdad railroad appeared to be a threat against Russia in which it stretched into an area where Russia had a leading portion of the trade. Nevertheless, interventions by other nations following rising pressure the construction of the railway created caused the railroad building to come to a halt; thus it never completed (Barth 5). German’s attempt to expand its dominion over zones surrounding the rail is a form of imperialism which consequently angered the British and Russian powers. In fact, the three countries engaged in intense fights during the initial period of the World War I as well as during the better part that the battles existed.
In conclusion, imperialism was a major contributor to the First World War as it formed the ground for the tensions to happen. Additionally, imperialism caused the formation of other facets that contributed to the war including militarism, nationalism as well as strong alliances among different imperial powers. Following persistent build-up of these tensions, disagreements and aggravations by involved countries, an outburst of battle ensued which was not only anticipated but also inexorable. Competition for dominance, threats, and defense of nations stirred pressures that generated the other contributors of the First World War. Imperialism provided the basis for these conflicts among imperial governments thus making the conflict’s development. Imperialism stemmed from the movements towards industrialization that attempted to extend and progress states, mainly European nations. And although one may argue that the other causes of the Firs world War were the main contributors, none of these other factors would have existed were it not for the institution of imperialism into the stats around the globe.           

Works Cited
Barth, Boris. “Imperialism.” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2015. 1-17.
Retrieved from http://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/pdf/1914-1918-Online-imperialism-2015-03-04.pdfHamilton, Richard F. The Origins of World War I. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press,
2004.
Hobson, J A. Imperialism: A Study. New York: Cosimo, 2005.
International the University of Northwest. “Nationalism, Imperialism and WWI.” iun.edu. n.d.
Retrieved from http://www.iun.edu/~hisdcl/h114_2002/ww1.htmSinclair, Mark1. “Bergson’s Philosophy Of Will And The War Of 1914-1918.” Journal Of The
History Of Ideas 77.3 (2016): 467-487. Humanities Source. Web.