ARTS1781 EUROPE IN THE MODERN WORLD S2, 2016

Lecture 1

INTRODUCTION
The international system (1900-1945)
- Euro-centric international system
- European powers called the shots
o Had significant military capabilities
o Dominated world trade
- European empires covered much of the world
- US and Japan on the rise, but with limited influence
- Based on multipolarity & shifting alliances
An explosive mix
- Europes decline of Europe was caused by
o German question
o Economic volatility
- Interplay of this 2 factors brought about WWII
- How Euro powers dealt with instability was crucial
- Indeed, European powers were not blameless in creating instability
o Versailles (1919)
o Disagreements on Germany (post-1919)
The International system
- New IS was profoundly different
o Structured around opposing blocks
o Changing alignments discourage
o Based on nuclear deterrence
- Superpower confrontation was
o Ideological
o Economic
o Diplomatic
o Military
The two blocks
- A divided Europe under Soviet and American ascendancy
- East/west blocks
o USSR crashed the Hungarian and Czech uprisings
o Unlike Warsaw Pact, NATO was the result of Western European
lobbying
o Dissent amongst Western allies tolerated
- Now Europe was in a subordinate position
- Major WE nations turned into regional powers
Cold War & Decolonisation
- Cold War was not all about superpower confrontation in Europe

Rapid process of decolonisation/end of empire

o European powers forced to give up their empires
o International system increasingly less West- oriented
Post-war European Integration
EU as a means of
o Overcoming Franco-German divisions (and nationalism)
o Providing a bulwark against the Soviet vision of Europe
o Creating a more influential Europe
How does Australia fit into this story?
- Australias relations with Britain
o How this complex relationship shaped OZ
o How relationship evolved
- Australias relations with Continental Europe
- How was Oz affected by changes taking place in Europe?
- How ware Ozs foreign relations affected by developments triggered
off in Europe?

EUROPEs DOMINANCE 1900-18

-

Europe had enjoyed a long peace

Turn of XIX & XX century known as belle poque
o Scientific/technological progress
o Belief that humans were embarked on steady progress
o Interdependent nature of finance/trade/industry had altered
international politics
Military power appeared to have become meaningless
Yet, only a few years later Europe plunged into WWI

The age of European empires

-

Optimism fostered by imperial achievement

Europe exerted almost unquestioned superiority
o Predominance encouraged a sense of cultural superiority
o European elites often stressed on this point
World as a oyster/migrations from Europe
Tide of European dominance was however beginning to turn
o 1899-1902: II Boer War
o 1904-05: Russo-Nippon war

European Empires in the XX century

- European expansion began in XVI
- By mid-XIX settlements in West. Hemisphere had achieved
independence
- From late XIX century Europe expanded more rapidly than at any
other time XX century empires product of
o Industrial Revolution
o Europes consequent lead in technology/weapons

o Need to secure manpower, resources, territory against

European rivals
The cause of imperial expansion
- Explanations for late XIX century expansion:
o Economic
Markets for industrial production
Markets for capital Raw materials
o Geopolitical
Sustain influence in Europe
o Strategic
Military bases
Prevent other powers from controlling certain areas
o Political
Prestige
Maintenance of colonial stability
The long Pax Europea
- Congress of Vienna laid the ground for peace Order & stability were
based on:
o Well-organized system of diplomacy
Elites/policymakers from similar background
Standardized code of conduct
o Balance of Power
Moderation in the pursuit of self-interest
Mutual deterrence
No country could be too strong
Shifting alliances