Explain how imperial and colonial rivalry, and nationalism in the Balkans, increased tension between the great powers before 1914

What this dot point is asking

SEAB wants you to explain how two related kinds of rivalry raised tension before 1914: competition between the great powers for colonies, trade and prestige overseas, and the growth of nationalism in the Balkans as the Ottoman Empire declined. You should be able to describe specific flashpoints, such as the Moroccan crises and the Balkan situation, and explain how they deepened distrust between the powers and helped set the scene for war. The task is to link these rivalries to the rising danger of conflict.

The answer

Imperial rivalry and the scramble for prestige

By 1900 the great powers competed fiercely for colonies, markets and influence around the world. Owning a large empire was a mark of national greatness. Britain and France already held huge empires. Germany, united only in 1871, was a newer power that felt it deserved a "place in the sun" and resented being left behind. This competition for territory and status created friction, because a gain for one power often felt like a loss for another. Even when no shots were fired, imperial quarrels left lasting bitterness and pushed the powers into rival groups.

The Moroccan crises

The clearest examples of imperial rivalry in Europe were the two crises over Morocco. In 1905 the German Kaiser visited Morocco and declared support for its independence, deliberately challenging French plans to control the country. In 1911 Germany sent a gunboat to the Moroccan port of Agadir, again to pressure France. In both cases war was avoided, but the results worked against Germany. France kept its influence in Morocco, and, more importantly, Britain backed France strongly both times. Germany's attempts to split Britain and France instead drove them closer together, strengthening the Entente.

The decline of the Ottoman Empire

Tension was sharpest in the Balkans, the region of south-eastern Europe. For centuries much of it had been ruled by the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, but by 1900 that empire was weak and shrinking. As Ottoman power retreated, new and ambitious states such as Serbia emerged, and the great powers competed to fill the gap. People at the time called the region "the powder keg of Europe" because it was so unstable and seemed ready to explode.

Great-power ambition and Balkan nationalism

Two great powers had strong interests in the Balkans, and they clashed. Russia presented itself as the protector of the Slav peoples of the region and wanted influence and access to warm-water ports. Austria-Hungary, a multi-ethnic empire, feared that Slav nationalism would encourage its own minorities to break away. In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia, which had a large Slav population, angering both Russia and neighbouring Serbia. The Balkan Wars of 1912 to 1913 then drove the Ottomans almost entirely out of Europe and left Serbia larger and more confident. Serbia now dreamed of uniting all the South Slavs, including those under Austrian rule, which set it directly against Austria-Hungary.

Why these rivalries raised the danger of war

Imperial and Balkan rivalries raised tension in different ways. Imperial quarrels such as Morocco rarely led to war directly, but they hardened the blocs by driving the Entente powers together and isolating Germany. Balkan rivalry was more dangerous still, because it combined a power vacuum, the clashing ambitions of Austria-Hungary and Russia, and aggressive Serbian nationalism in one small region. This is why, when the spark finally came in 1914, it came from the Balkans, in the form of the assassination of the Austrian heir in Sarajevo.

Examples in context

Example 1. The Agadir Crisis of 1911. When Germany sent the gunboat Panther to Agadir to challenge French influence in Morocco, it hoped to win a colonial gain or to expose Britain as an unreliable friend to France. Instead Britain made clear it would stand by France, even hinting it might fight. The crisis passed peacefully, but it convinced many in Britain that Germany was aggressive and confirmed the Anglo-French partnership, the opposite of what Germany intended.

Example 2. The Bosnian annexation of 1908. When Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, it humiliated Serbia, which had hoped to gain the largely Slav province, and angered Russia, the Slavs' protector. Russia, still weak after its defeat by Japan in 1905, had to back down, which left it determined not to be humiliated again. This helps explain why, in 1914, Russia stood firmly behind Serbia rather than retreating once more.

Try this

Q1. Give one example of imperial rivalry between the great powers before 1914. [3 marks]

• Cue. The Moroccan crises of 1905 or 1911, when Germany challenged French control of Morocco and Britain backed France.

Q2. Explain why Serbia and Austria-Hungary were rivals before 1914. [5 marks]

• Cue. Serbia wanted to unite the South Slavs, including those ruled by Austria-Hungary; Austria-Hungary feared Slav nationalism would break up its multi-ethnic empire, so the two were set against each other.

Q3. "Rivalry in the Balkans was more important than colonial rivalry in causing the First World War." How far do you agree? [8 marks]

• Cue. Argue the Balkans provided the spark and combined many tensions, while colonial rivalry mainly hardened the blocs; weigh both before judging.