AN INTERNATIONAL CIVILIZATION?
EMPIRE, INTERNATIONALISM, AND THE CRISIS OF THE
MID TWENTIENTH CENTURY
BY MARK MAZOWER
Introduction
Power Politics is unity of international society is thrown into sharpest relief when it is riven by
an international civil war.
The system between European history and our conceptions of international order.
The system of international politics that emerged in Europe at the beginning of modern times
that provides the political framework of the world.
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS
Are based on European civilizations
Heritage of customs
Norms
Ethical values
Beliefs system
European Civilization as Standard Civilization of the world
Defeat of Napoleon became the fundamental to new understanding of international order and
new techniques of international rule.
International law is an aid to the preservation of order of only civilized states
19th Century the idea of the “united nations” was born BUT: Civilized and Less Civilized
3 categories of Humanity
Civilized
Barbaric
Savage
3 Corresponding grades of recognition
Plenary Political
Partial Political
Natural or mere human
Public Law of Europe
Move which same commentators saw as the moment when international law ceased to apply only
to Christian states.
BELIGERENT OCCUPATION
THE OTTOMANS AND THE CRIMEAN WAR
INT’L Law ceased to apply only Cristian states – Europeans regarded the ottomans as not
being fully civilized
Europeans took over some parts of the empire to make their own and to make them
‘civilized’
Victorian international law divided the world according to standard of civilizations
In Europe
Europe controlled
controlled
Non European controlled
POST WORLD WAR INTERNATIONALISM
United states was now considered a European power or a major superpower like Britain
Monroe Doctrine was finally recognized by European states
Japan stood up against the identification of 19 th century civilization that is tied with
Christendom, following the events of russo-Japanese war.
TREATY OF VERSAILLES
Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war
Germany had to pay $31.4 billion reparations
Germany had to make substantial territorial concessions
They lost control of:
Alsace Lorraine (France) Eupen and Malmedy (Belgium)
North Schleswig (Denmark)
Hulschin (Czechoslovakia)
West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia (Poland)
Saar, Danzig and Memel (League of Nations)
All gains from the Treaty of Brest Litovsk (Russia)
All colonies (League of Nations)
Germany had to cut its army to 100,000 men
League of Nations
Established at Versailles after the first world war
permanent organization of Abyssinia, Siam, Iran and Turkey
WHY THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS FAILED
The failure of the League of Nations was one of the main reasons for the outbreak of wqr
The Manchurian Crisis 1931-1933 followed the Mukden Incident in which Japanese rail
tracks were destroyed in an explosion. Claiming that it was saboteurs, the Japanese
responded with force, taking control of the Chinese province of Manchuria. The issue
was investigated by the League of Nations which found Japan to be at fault.
he Abyssinia Crisis was an international crisis in 1935 originating in what was called the
walwal incident in the then-ongoing conflict between the kingdom of italy and the empire
of ethiopia (then commonly known as “Abyssinia”).
The difference between IMPERIALISM and COLONIALISM
Imperialism practice by which a – country increases its power by gaining control over
other areas in the world.
Colonialism practice of establishing – territorial dominion over a colony by an outside
political power.
Basis of Existence of an Independent Nation
Class A - Arab provinces of the Middle East
Class B - Central Africa
Class C - “sacred trust for civilization”
Tripartite Pact (Germany, Italy and Japan)
They protest that the world be given each its own proper place.
“No nation belonging to the white race has ever before had such conditions forced upon
it.”
Eugene Erdely
“Trusteeship” turned to “Partnership” as a term which is felt to interpret more correctly
the outlook of the colonial peoples themselves towards the present phase of their political
evolution within the British Commonwealth of Nations
• International Law Commission agreed to refrain from using the expression “civilized
countries”
