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Lecture #3

The Impact of WWI on the Periphery

  1. Prelude
    1. Beginning of 20th c world becomes more interrelated
    2. Connected in many ways
      1. Colonial holdings of European countries
      2. Heavily dependent on US or Europe without being colonies
        1. Colonial power--Britain
          1. constant military presence
          2. runs country
        2. Dependent power -- US
          1. not constant military presence
          2. interfere in internal affairs -- Mexico
          3. economic ties supersede political and military ties
        3. Colonies also have economic bond with great powers
        4. Core countries export expensive manufactured good and import cheap natural reasources.
      3. Psycological ties bond countries together
        1. Relationship between upper classes in dependent countries and core countries
        2. Core countries impose their educational system on dependent countries
        3. Attempt to convert to Christianity
  1. Europeans argue that colonialsim OK beacause they export superior culture to colonies
    1. Gave peripheral countries the sense that htey had to imitate Europe to order to progress
    2. Upper classes in peripheral countries spoke core languages--French, Spanish, English not native languages.
    3. Imported symbols of power from Europe-crowns
    4. Colonials adopt ceremonial garb of colonized areas in order to legitimize rule
    5. Colonies resent subordinate status
  1. WWI
    1. Center of conflict in Europe
    2. Destorys much economic and military power of dominant countries
    3. Ripple effect throughout the world
    4. Tensions before the war:
      1. gender and class
      2. patched up for war
      3. pick up again after war
    5. As colonial armies enter war European mystique of infallibility was shaken
      1. colonials fight alonside Europeans and see common soldiers
    6. Colonials fight and die for a war they didn't care about
      1. Feel they deserve something in return
      2. Powers owe them concession after war
  1. Us and Russia rise in importance during and after the war
    1. US turns tide against Germany--can influence postwar settlement
    2. Bolsheviks represent forces for change in world system
    3. Lenin and Wilson argue that should be no more secret treaties after war
    4. Both argue that goal of war was to promote a broader based world politcal system--didn't agree on means
    5. Both argue for self-determination among people
  2. Forces for order
    1. French, Italian and British people don't like self-determination
      1. Don't want to lose their colonies
      2. Don't want mass participation--rule of the elite is traditional
    2. Two groups collide at Versailles
      1. Lenin not invited
      2. Wilson very popular in 1918 with colonies
        1. Wilson has little diplomatic experience
        2. Has no sympathy for aims and aspiration of colonial countries
        3. wants slow change for colonies in Africa, Mideast, Asia, and Mexico
        4. Sent mixed signals
      3. Two biggest proponents for change were silent at Versailles.
  3. Peripheral countries were politically and economically weak
    1. Couldn't push for their interests
    2. Versailles didn't transform traditional order
    3. Tried to contain change and restructure existing order
    4. Some European countries receiced independence but no colonial countries
    5. No concessions were made to colonies
    6. Former colonies of Germany placed under control of League of Nations
    7. Mandate System
      1. protectorate over a given area given to one of the principle European powers
      2. Have virtual colonial control
      3. Supposed to be temporary--preparation for self-rule
      4. League was active in containing change
    8. Hed to unrest in the periphery
      1. Palestine
        1. British mandate was met by resistance from Arab and Jewish groups
      2. Egypt--revolt in 1919 to demand concessions from Britain
      3. China--1920-1930--series of revolts against foreign domination and rule of local elites
      4. Mexico--1917 constitution
        1. limited foreign ownership of natural resources
        2. demanded foreign owners have to follow Mexican law
        3. emphasizes Indian cultural roots
  4. Attempts to break psychological and cultural ties with developed world.

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