Wars and Territorial Expansion in Securing Rational Efforts of the State - Essay Example

Task Wars and attempts at territorial expansion are often the result of s’ rational efforts to be secure Introduction Ancient times were marred with numerous wars and efforts by enemies to expand their territories past the provisional boundaries. Numerous wars occurred all over the globe with the governments having gigantic armies and military equipments. These contributed the urge for the realms that had absolute power to secure more land than they had in order, to have a large population from which they could recruit more men into the armies, for upcoming battles to acquire more territories. Different nations presented different strategies and reasons for war. The reasons for engagement in war and expansion of territories for different nations were diverse with the first reasons being the security dilemma. However, other nations engaged in war and expansion effort for different reasons. According to analysis of different wars that transpired within different areas of the world, the major reason for efforts to expand territories and take part in warfare was purely to make the nation or kingdom have more security compared to its enemies. This was considered a long-term assurance of safety, since the majority of the leader feared countries that had enormous population, since the populace had the capacity to provide large armies and other warfare equipments. Security was considered the most imperative aspect for any leadership mainly in the yester years since no permanent boundaries had been in place, as evident today where boundaries have been predetermined. Various wars and expansion efforts were captured in an attempt to make certain countries secure from their enemies. The Crimean wars can be presented as one of the wars that involved expansion of territories in a bid to improve security for the attackers. The reasons for the commencement of the wars had different dimensions since, at the initial stages, it seemed like the wars commenced out of inconsequential variance over Christian holy places that existed in Jerusalem (Badem 46). However, it later came to contemplation that the conflict commenced out of extended tensions that existed among the Europeans. During that time, Russia had been on the verge of enlarging its territorial boundaries to the south at the outlay of different Muslim territories, as well as, the Ottoman Turks (Badem 46). Therefore, Russia was obtaining a solid foundation although Ottoman still possessed the greater parts of Balkan. Ottoman’s performance in the acquisition and expansion of the territories had been on a downward trend at that moment after episodes of significant conquers. The Russians were considered the protectors of the holy place for the Christians in the Ottoman’s territory. The French assisted in combating conflicts between the Christian and Orthodox thus obtaining regards from the Turks (Badem 64). In this period, Russia resolved to utilizing tension as an instrument to acquire authority over Constantinople together with the advantage it had regarding, contact with the Mediterranean. The move significantly cause panic for the French and Britain who profoundly objected the move since they had developed rivalries with Russia. They viewed the move as an upset of authority within the region. Soon after the refusal of the demands, war broke out in various areas around the Turkish Empire. In response, Turkey established war with Russia thus leading to the large war between the two regions in the warfare of Oltenitza (Badem 99). Consequently, Russia overpowered Turkish forces through the utilization of the famous shell guns. However, the victory was short-lived with the affirmation of warfare on Russia by the Turkish allies mainly the French and the British. Turk gained further support from Austria since they had considerable opposition to the expansion plans that Russia depicted through subsequent conquers (Badem 65). Therefore, the three realized the objective of stumping Russia out of Balkans. In addition, the powers resolved to trim down the naval power that Russia possessed through the alienation and obliteration of the principal naval base. The wars depict aspects that substantiate the fact that states carried out expansion in order to be secure, since they feared what their enemies might resolve to in the prospect. French and Britain felt threatened by the fact that Russia attacked Turkish territories and achieved control. Gaining of the control of the vast territories that Turkey held would considerably undermine the control of Russia. The two powers feared the intention of Russia once it gained the vast territories. In order for the two powers to be secure from any ill intentions that Russia would possess in future concerning attacks, these powers had to utilize the opportunity to weaken the power and prevent further efforts to expand into their territories. As evident in the war and expansion efforts, Russia had already commenced its plans to expand extensively into neighboring territories despite whether they belonged to other powers. Resolutions made in crippling the naval base of the Russian fleet served the purpose of reducing the tendency of Russia to engage in further territory acquisitions. The WW 1that lasted from 1914-1918 was viewed as a war that could end all wars. This resulted from a long time piling that was only sparked by the assassination of Ferdinand Franz who was believed to be the heir to Austro-Hungarian throne. What followed was a series of action and response with one leading to the other. The failure of Serbia to heed the ultimatum issued by Austria Hungary resulted in a declaration of War against Serbia. It is at this point that the tangle of alliances come in, a sign of olden time repeating itself. This is in reference to the origins of core alliances that go back in history to the Bismarck’s well-known intrigues. Bismarck merged the confederated German states into a unified Germany just to be guaranteed of his security. This is a sign that, he believed, having a vast territory meant that, security would be high. This could be because he thought in terms of numbers as well as having a vast borderline to be able to trace enemies from a far. This was the same alliance experienced during the First World War. After Austria Hungary deciding to start the war with Serbia, Russia in debt by treaty to Serbia, it had to come in and mobilize its large Army to help Serbia fight Austria Hungary. Conversely, Germany, which was also bound by treaty to Austria Hungary, had to come in and assist it. France, bound by accord, to Russia had also to step into the fight and defend Russia to which it was bound by war. Britain followed suit by joining the France, Russia, and Serbia alliance to fight against Austria Hungary and Germany. This series of events leading to another continued for a long time with the entry of Japan in 1914, Italy in 1915 and the United States in 1917. Many argue that the confederacy of German states into Germany was extremely relevant to the happenings that occurred 43 years later. This, however, had been instigated by Bismarck’s need for intensified security thus expanding the new Germany as far as the old states boundaries reached. That is why the recapture of Lorraine and Prussia from the German empire by France was one of the many reasons France entered into war in 1914. However, this was socially instigated considering the vulnerability they were prone to after these regions were taken from them. France, therefore, thought that, by recapturing these regions, they would expose Germany to enemies given the strategic positions of this place. Considering the aftermath of the First World War, it is agreeable that some wars do happen for some states to be secure. This is so because; this war was directly linked to the change of territorial boundaries. For instance, the First World War resulted into gains and losses of these boundaries to powers that were more superior. Therefore, entering into war the attempts directed towards territorial conquests do not just happen, they do happen for a reason. For example, France entered, into war with a goal, to recapture its lost territories just to intensify their security, and for sure it was forthcoming. It is thus beyond a reasonable doubt that most nations believed that, more territory meant more power and more security. This implies that in as much as the First World War was alliance based with nations coming into the support of others, since it resulted into changes in territorial boundaries. This means that, in any case, states entering wars do that with hidden meanings. Most of the empires that were involved in the First World War had gained their empires through conquests, and they wished to expand this during this war. This is a clear indication that, in the past countries lived under hostilities from their neighbors. This, therefore, meant that they and to guard their territories against any attack, in case this happened, their security was compromised. German has, therefore, become to be known as one of the major contributors to the Great War. Being a fourth entrant into the war in support of Austria Hungary, one would think that it did that for sane reasons of helping out. However, its efforts had been selfishly driven. This is so because of its most fundamental goal was its desire to gain greater power as well as expand its influence internationally. However, its efforts did not see the light of the day because with their rational belief that they would gain influence which was to be through conquests, it ended up losing a part of its territory. Conclusion It is, therefore, essential to note that, historical times had been filled with episodes of conquests and wars. This was, in a bid, to gain more territory for purposes of security than the enemies. Therefore, the causes of the first world emanated from the long standing enmity that had resulted from these issues of attempts of territorial expansion and wars. With countries seeking to revenge and more so get their territories back, especially European countries, it only needed fuel that could lead to an explosion. Therefore, the assassination of the Austria Hungarian by Serbians ignited the past thus resulting into the Great War. In both wars, expansion efforts, which included war, were utilized in securing safety from the enemies. Large territories for different powers guaranteed the safety needed against enemy territory possessors. This substantiates the actuality that expansion efforts and wars were meant to ensure that states or powers indeed are secured from their enemy forces. Work Cited Badem, Candan. The Ottoman Crimean War, 1853-1856. Boston: Brill, 2010. Print. Read More