독일제국 빌헬름 2세의 식민지정책과 동아시아

Abstract

Germany was unified at the peak of the colonial competition among European Powers. During this time, colonial competition faced a new era because of the Industrial Revolution. Colony was no longer the resource of the profits with trade securing gold and silver to home. It was a part of total economic system from the source of cheap raw materials for the industry to the market for the manufactured goods. At the same time, because of the rise of nationalism, colony became the symbol of national pride. Otto von Bismarck maintained the policy to secure the security of newly created German Empire in Europe. Achieving this prime goal, he wanted to reduced the possible conflict among European nations from colonial competition. At the same time, Bismarck tried to dodge the political chaos between the liberals and conservatives over the colonial issue internally. Therefore, he used colonial issue as a political and diplomatic leverage to achieve his goals. Unfortunately, Bismarck failed to create a system to secure German Empire internally and externally. Since he was an exceptional politician, he could use this leverage effectively and efficiently. That is, German colonial policy as well as other major policies was controlled by Bismarck himself rather than a system. When Wilhelm II became a Kaiser, personally operated Bismarck system could not work. As a man of his own world view, Wilhelm II was a dangerous man at the dangerous time. Wilhelm II discarded Bismarck's policy of gradual and careful colonial expansion. He proclaimed the beginning of 'Der neue Kurs' to escape from the Bismarck's past. He adopted Weltpolitik as a tool of der neue Kurs. Weltpolitik was a policy to promote tension among the Powers to shift the balance of power. Doing so, he believed that Germany could secure the benefits. The first place to apply the Weltpolitik was in Korea. During the Sino-Japanese War, Berlin tried to shift the balance of power in Asia. Berlin secured the first colony in Asia in Chiaochao Bay in Shantung through the Triple Intervention. This short-term success became the poison for the future of German Empire. Wilhelm II continued this policy during the Russo-Japanese War and failed. Still, he did not give up and applied same policy in Africa that resulted the World War I.