Emergence and causes

In 19. Century became the penetration of European and US-American interests of power in overseas by military force a usual form of the exercise of power. But there were different causes.

One of the emphasis of the gunboat politics was Latin America and here above all Central America. After the independence from Spain and Portugal first larger state things developed like for example the centralAmerican (1823-1838) or large Colombia (1819-1830), which disintegrated gradually into member states. Internal arguments led to a number of civil wars and coups d'etat. In these areas therefore no reliable and with regard to foreign policy responsible person government authority could be established over longer time.

This region had become an important overseas trade partner in particular at the same time for those nations, which did not have an own colonial possession, like e.g. the USA and Germany (1885 ago). Many European emigrants and businessmen established themselves there. These foreigners of the required protection by their homelands, in order to be able to secure in a situation of large juridical insecurity in weakly developed commonwealth their existence. Their status depended on the reputation and the military power of their country. Powers, which had in the region bases, turned into to use their naval forces for the protection of its citizens and for driving financial demands.

A further reason for the military diplomacy was the absence of other diplomatic channels, like it itself in 20. Century developed. Many of the non-European states did not maintain diplomatic relations with European countries, Peru maintained about 1875 at all no diplomatic relations with the foreign country. Also existed still no Telegrafenverbindungen or similar fast means of communication, which could have been helpful during the arbitration of arguments between states. Supra-national institutions like the or the United Nations were created many later.

Finally the understanding of international law was differently developed than in 20. and 21. Century. The employment of military means for the penetration of national interests was considered as legitimate. The national honouring term required sanctions with irreverence of small powers.

Examples of the gunboat politics

The gunboat politics were used from the USA again and again for the first time in July 1853 by Commodore Matthew Perrys 4-Schiff-Geschwader in the Japanese bay of Edo, today's Tokyo, and since that time to the support of informal rule in Central America and the Karibik as well as in the south Pacific.

Between 1902 and 1959 US warships in the port of Havanna on Cuba anchored again and again, in order not to set genehme governments off or to force politico-economic decisions in favor of the USA.

Germany took part likewise in military operations against overseas countries, so for example in the context of the iron stucco affair in such a way specified 1876-78 in Nicaragua, the boxing up conditions 1900 in China or the second Morocco crisis 1911 ("“Panthersprung after Agadir"”).

Also the Royal Navy took part actively in the gunboat politics, for example with the penetration of British interests against Greece with the Don so mentioned Pacifico incident 1850 in Saloniki.

Effects and end of the gunboat politics

The gunboat politics did not only have for the states concerned predominantly negative effects. Also the great powers recognized the disadvantages, which this procedure brought with itself. The penetration by force of the interests prevented the formation of right security and gave preference to the stronger one, which was straight with armed forces locally. Thus the great powers were forced to maintain in many areas naval forces. In addition the risk of an inadvertent confrontation always existed among themselves.

Already with Hague the agreements of 1907 a first step was undertaken for the end of the gunboat politics. Above all the Ith Hague concerning agreements the peaceful completion of international controversies and the IITH Hague served that concerning agreements the non-application of force with recovery of contract debts. After the First World War and the establishment of the the phase of the gunboat politics except for few exceptions was terminated.

References

Literature

Hartmut (Hg.), international missions of German warships in the peace, Bochum 2003, ISBN 3-89911-007-2 kart

Related links

Gerhard Wiechmann, the Prussian-German navy in Latin America 1866 -1914, Oldenburg 2000

Wikilinks

• History of Cuba
• Imperial navy

Articles in category "Gunboat politics"

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