To What Extent Should We Embrace Nationalism? To What Extent Should National Interest be Pursued?

What is National Interest? Actions that benefit a nation Economic prosperity: Stable employment and standard of living Security and safety: protecting citizens, secure borders Beliefs and values: people’s values and cultures. Protecting the beliefs and values of the citizens

Our national interests DO NOT remain the same over time Events both within a country and externally continually shape and influence a nation’s national interest What types of issues can change a nation’s national interest?

Causes of The First World War

Prelude to War Congress of Vienna 1814-1815 Nationalist fervor takes place throughout Europe in the 1800s Industrial Revolution drastically changes world economies Berlin Conference of 1884 and the Scramble for Africa Rise of Imperialism

Causes of WWI - MAIN Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures Militarism When a nation’s armed forces come to dominate a country’s national policy It is also a glorification of the military and war itself 1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures France 10% Britain 13% Russia 39% Germany 73%

Alliances (Imperial) Signed treaties in which each nation involved pledges to defend its allies if attacked The alliances made it more likely that a war would start Once started, the alliances made it more likely to spread

Alliances Triple Entente: Triple Alliance: Great Britain Germany Austria-Hungary France Russia Italy

Imperialism Domination by one country over the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region European countries believed it was their national interest to expand territories and control colonies Due to the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s, some European nations had a large portion of the world under their control

Imperialism and Colonial Rivalries After 1870, the European nations began to acquire colonies in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Colonial rivalry led to: strained relations among the European powers. In Africa, all the European powers except Austria and Russia had colonies there. Thus there were many clashes among France, Britain, Germany and Italy. the formation and strengthening of alliances and ententes. (indirectly) an intensification of the arms race. much hostility among the powers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alJaltUmrGo

Nationalism Pride and patriotism in one’s nation In terms of WWI, nationalism became aggressive and because of this a major cause of international tension Independent nations desired dominance and prestige and as these powers tried to dominate each other in Europe, their rivalries may be regarded as one of the causes of the First World War

Nationalism

Nationalism

Assassination The “spark” that started the First World War On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria Hungarian Throne was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist who believed that Bosnia should belong to Serbia

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie at Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914

Gavrilo Princip after his assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The Point of No Return Austria blamed Serbia for Ferdinand’s death and declared war on Serbia. Germany pledged their support for Austria -Hungary. Russia pledged their support for Serbia.

Germany declares war on Russia France pledges their support for Russia Germany declares war on France Germany invades Belgium on the way to France Great Britain supports Belgium and declares war on Germany