The World System of States in the Period 1815-1914

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Introduction

A world-system is a social system that has boundaries, people, rules, and people among others. Its nature is composed of the forces that can hold it together or break it apart because in it there are various types of groups of people working for their advantage. Just like a living thing, it has the characteristics of a living thing because it can change with time or remain the same. Its structure can be either weak or strong.

Influences that led to change within the world system of states in the period 1815-1914

The end of the Napoleonic wars at waterloo in the year 1815 marked the start of a period that is commonly known as the ‘hundred years’. This is the period between 1815 and 1914, when a major war broke again. Europeans lived in peace this period. The period before the year 1815was marked by a series of wars (Gill 55).

At about 1870, things began to take another turn and it started threatening the prevailing peace in the continent. The wars of German unification and the Prussian with France were some of the wars that arose. Prince Otto von Bismarck of Prussia had promised his people a period peace, which lasted for some time. His leadership skills enabled him to manipulate power. Through skillful diplomacy, he managed to create an alliance system that was international and stable.

After Napoleon defeat there was a need to have peace in around the period between 1814 and 1815 where by a congress to set new boundaries was set up. Balance of power needed to be maintained. The congress also looked and dealt with international problems. A system was set up for signing treaties in French doing it in an alphabetical order (Little70). After the signing of the treaties, the wars that were taking place ended. Of course, there were rules but funny enough they were not written down. There were great powers and lesser powers, which were dominated by the major ones.

The big problem that Otto von Bismarck was the fact, that industrial revolution had started in the world by 1871. The American Civil war made it necessary to have new weapons and techniques. The construction of railway lines and steamships would have a greater impact on war.

International agriculture and trade had already begun to be complicated thus creating great competition between states. Generally, the whole world had grown more complicated and dangerous during the period towards the end of the ‘hundred years’ (Gill 83). A lot happened during this time, the change in the state of the economy, population, urbanization and the high rate of people migration was affecting the character of some nations like the U.S.

By the year 1870, Britain was the only industrialized power in the whole world. Therefore, it became the ‘workshop of the world,’ finished goods were made using cheap labor hence they could sell them at a cheaper price therefore acquiring a greater market even in overseas markets. Britain had lost around thirteen colonies in North American but it remained the most successful international power. Industrial Revolution in Britain made it economically ahead and in addition to that, its Royal Navy was the main one in the seas.

This enabled Britain to expand its economic and political influence (Gill 92). One of the greatest factors that shaped the map of most of the continents was the need to establish national identities. Most shapes of countries were shaped because of that. Today, most of them remain like that though some have changed here and there. From the begging of the 19th century up to its end, there was greater keenness to create new national identities in Europe. This growing interest had a great impact on the map of Europe and as a result, the First World War came into being.

During that time, industrial revolution was taking place in the continent. Industries needed raw materials to manufacture finished goods. As a result, there was a rush to put under control the major areas, where the raw materials could be retrieved. With time, the Europeans had exhausted all the raw materials that they possessed (Little 48). They needed now to act faster because they risked closing down their industries.

As a result, they moved out of their continent to other continents in such of the precious commodity. Most of them crossed to Africa and by that time, there was nothing like industrial revolution in the continent. The main groups that were rushing to secure areas with raw materials in Africa included the Germans, the French, the British, Italy, and Portugal amongst others.

The need to get raw materials for industries back in Europe eventually led to the portioning of Africa. Each of the various groups was in a hurry to get to Africa and acquire areas with raw materials. On getting into the country and securing those areas, they would declare them their own territories (Gill 20). It would result into war when one group declared a certain area its and another one came and did the same on the same piece of land. They continued fighting to own those areas until there was an agreement on how to settle the disputes.

Some great powers like Britain acquired many territories in Africa especially in the eastern part. Minor powers like Portugal had a less number. Of course, many of the Africans resisted the interruption of their own territories but could not help themselves much because they did not have the proper weapons. At last, those groups came to an agreement and signed treaties in agreement to partition Africa according to the spheres of influence. This resulted to the map of Africa we have today. The boundaries that were drawn during those times are still intact though some have been changed here and there.

Because of the changes within the world system of states, there was need for states to balance in order to prevent some of them from being dominated by other stronger powers. Once a state had made it to the dominant power status, other states would try to curb it before it became too powerful in order to avoid being oppressed by it. Each state tries as much as possible to make its capabilities better. Others join other states, which cannot dominate them for them to be able to prevent the potential state that can dominate them from doing so (Gill52). Once a state dominates other states, the survival of the states that are dominated becomes limited.

When the Cold War ended, the following years marked the dominance of the United States where by there was no balancing of power (Gill 224). The term, “balance of power” as used has a variety of meanings. People have different understanding of the term and for some, power balancing was unavoidable and was as a result of the out comes of anarchy and insecurity. Contrary to that, other people, a factor could bring people together to ensure stability and unity for the common good of every body (little 32). When this happens, war will definitely be eradicated and peace will prevail.

When states join a balance alliance that gives them the ability to be a way ahead in influence and take greater role in the alliance given that a dominating state would not permit them to make a greater proportion of contribution in decision-making and other key areas. This is because the dominating state would be in control of every thing and that will leave no chance for other minor states.

On joining an alliance, a state will be in a position to exercise its freedom and can take part in decision-making. This way it will not be in apposition of being ordered here and there to do something by the dominating state (Little56). Most of the times, states in the middle powers that have something to contribute and protect will many a times end up joining an alliance when they are faced with the threat of a certain state ascending to greater power.

Conclusion

The world system of states in the period 1815-1914 resulted in a better society where by nations were created. Before Britain was, the only industrialized nation but with time, many countries have become industrialized. As a result, international trade has improved hence; the world has been place in a better economic level than earlier on. So many countries are now developed are not controlled by any super power.

Works Cited

Gill, Graeme. The Nature and Development of the Modern State. Basingstoke [u.a.: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003. Print.

Little, Richard. The Balance of Power in International Relations: Metaphors, Myths, and Models. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print.

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The World System of States in the Period 1815-1914

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