On the Impact of Colonial Competition on the Outbreak of the First World War

On the impact of colonial competition on the outbreak

of the First World War

What caused the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 remains a matter of dispute. The nationalistic movements in Europe, the arms race between two of her mightiest powers or the imperialistic advancements commenced by the countries of the continent, all put up for a plethora of not unworthy propositions. The history of grievances directly related to the pre-war tension led historians to relativize the gravity of some arguments over others in the context of the outbreak itself. Among the abovementioned, colonial rivalry takes a rather central standing in generating the global apprehension, and since the mid 19th century it dictated largely the European agenda for international relations. Later on, this period of annexation, numerous political clashes and Anglo-German naval race, lasted until the very outset of the First World War. Examination of the pre-war imperialism is a matter worthwhile for a number of reasons. As the strongest nations pursued patriotically their national policies of expansion, they inevitably went in each other’s way, and although the codes of international law date as back as the 18th century, there was no universal authority to enforce them. Divided in two groups, the European powers sought national security and economic surplus overseas, becoming increasingly armed and antagonistic.

The first hostility of the future arch-enemies occurred in the southern regions of Africa, over Transvaal. Germans controlled South West Africa (Namibia), a strategically tempting position for both the Germans and the British as the state bordered on gold-rich Transvaal, ruled independently by the Boers. Eager not to allow German advancements in the area, Cecil Rhodes, the British leader of the Cape Colony, launched a coup to overthrow the Boer government. The Jameson Raid of 1895 was unsuccessful. At first, Kaiser pondered about declaring war on the British, but soon realised that...