Bismark: A Life by Jonathan Steinberg - Book Report/Review Example

Bismark: A Life by Jonathan Steinberg In the book dubbed “Bismarck,” historian Jonathan Steinberg takes us through the life who was able to unify Germany around his native Prussia. Steinberg enhances the book’s power by keeping his opinion on Bismark as low as possible. The book is premised on the life story of a political genius who remade United Gerrmany and Europe between the fiscal years 1862 and 1890. This was possible because of Bismark’s great personality. Steinberg has been able to bring the reader closer to this man with extraordinary skills. The book sees Bismark in the press, old friends, neighbours as well as secretaries’ perspective. Despite the fact that Bismarck created Germany he did not rule it. He was the prime minister for 28 years without any political party. He made very brilliant speeches but was not clear in delivering them. This made him address meetings on rare occasions. Bismark planned three wars and wore a military uniform at a later stage in life despite the fact that it had no relevance (Steinberg 2). Despite having strong names like the “image of Prussia” and the “Iron Chancellor, Bismark had hysteria and hypochondria. People in the contemporary world reffered to him as a dictator and many other critical observers ascribed that he had demonic powers. He was able to unite Germany and changed Europe to be like Napoleon’s era. He did this not with any command of great armies or state control. The book looks into the greatness and the limitations of Bismark’s self destruction. The book employs his contemporary letters as well as diaries to explore how he became a great man. In the seventh chapter of this book, Steinberge looks into the various wars that resulted in the unification of Germany. The major revolutions that occurs in the fiscal year 1848 were designed to help make Germany one. All German state representatives agreed to meet in Frankfut for the drafting of the constitution. In the fiscal year 1948, the German leaders were more keen to see Germany unified(Steinberg 185). The revolutions that occurred during that time were mostly to unify Germany. In the fiscal year 1849, the Parliament in Frankfurt gave King Friedrich Wilhelm IV the title of Emperor. However, the king refused this offer as he feared other princes opposing this fact as well as military intervention from nation states like Russia and Austria. Consequently, the meeting concluded with the Frankfurt parliament not succedding in what they intended to do. The chapter reveals the 1862, speech that Bismarck made to the Prussian Chamber of Deputies’ Budget Committee. In this meeting, Bismark clearly explained the utilization of iron and blood to be able to attain Prussia’s objectives. It meant that Prussia had to concentrate and safeguard its power for the opportune time. Based on the Vienna treaty, The Prussias boundaries were not condusive for the life of state (Steinberg 185). Bismark argued that the question of time could not be resolved by majority decisions and speeches but by iron and blood.Bismark sees the use of speech as the worst mistake that Germany could have made between 1848 and 1849. In the past, German comprised of various principalities that were bound loosely as German confederation members. The chapter reveals how Bismark was able to employ both the Prussian military and diplomacy to be unified. However, Austria was not included in the unification of Germany. This made Prussia the strongest and most dominant state in new Germany. Furthermore, it was able to ensure that Germany had an authoritarian system of government instead of a parliamentary regime that was liberal in nature. The death of Frederick VII of Denmark resulted in Bismarck’s diplomatic crisis. There were succession disputed as to whom will succeed the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. They stated that Christian IX would succeed Frederick VIIs as King while Frederick von Augustenburg was to be a German duke. The public opinion in Prussia favoured Augustenburgs claim. This was because southern Schleswig and Holstein spoke Germany as their language. The chapter reveals Bismarck’s unpopular step(Steinberg 187). He insisted that under the London Protocol that was signed earlier the territories legally belonged to the Danish monarch. Despite of this, Bismark denounced the decision made by Christians to annex Schleswig to Denmark completely. Bismark issued an ultimatum for Christian IX to go back to Schleswig. This was all done with the backing of Austria. Denmark’s refusal resulted in the invasion of Prussia and Austria. Consequently, this marked the Second Schleswig War and Denmark was made to give in to Dutch. The victory was not for Frederick of Augustenburg, as Bismarck soon removed him from power. Steinberge reveals how Bismark employed a variey of demands that were challenging for them to be in charge. One of the demands was that Prussia was to be incharge of the navy and armies that belonged to the dutchies (Steinberg 185). In the beginning, it was proposed that the Diet of the German Confederation should determine the duchies fate. This confederation represented all the states of Germany were represented. However, before the plan was to be executed, Bismarck had already made Austria to consent to the Gastein Convention. Under this treaty, Prussia gained Schleswig, while Austria gained Holstein. In that year, Bismarck was made Graf (Count) von Bismarck-Schönhausen. For any policy to be serious, there has to be a fixed point that can change the world. Bismark totally belived in the unique stature that the Prussian institutions had. As pointed out, Bismarck who was the King of Prussian lived securely even if the army was not in the country. Prussia could maneuver because it is flexible enough to be able to establish pre-eminence in the central part of Europe(Steinberg 185). Before Bismark came to power, conservatism and nationalism appeared on the scene. Bismark rejected proposition. Bismark belived that Prussia’s unity was so grounded that it had the ability to challenge the monarchial authorities domestically and abroad. In chapter 8, Stenberge looks at how Bismark was able to bring the unification of Germany. Most of Germany’s neighbours always desired the nation state to be weak and divided. A Germany that was powerful and united could pose as a threat. Despite the fact that Bismark tried to make other leaders be able to avoid the agreements that were made by the West and East. Despite the fact that it had a reputation of being organized, Germany was in a state of anarchy at the top. Bismark’s leadership is relevant in the unification of Germany as he was able to raise reforms for the reformation of the army(Steinberg 259). This was very vital in the unification of the states in Germany. Bismark was able to boldy ignore the parliaments decision to block any finds that were to be given for the project. In a speech made in the fiscal year 1863, Bismark purpoted that the person with the power at hand is the person who whose views will carry on. The money assisted in the building up of the army. This consequently assisted in the unification of Germany. After the 1848 Frankfurt Parliamnet failed, Bismark totally belived that for Germany to be unified, a lot of force had to be employed. The book clearly reveals Bismark’s success and legacy. The emergence of a united Germany minimized the flexibility that once existed by the many sovereign states that existed in Europe’s center. This united Germany was powerful enough to be able to defeat each of its neighbours and nearly made Russia and France to submit to the thought of having a coalition. The hostile coalitions that existed between the German states made it split into the East and West. This was one Bismark’s motivation for exploring diplomacy(Steinberg 259). He opted to counter it by involving Germany in various conflicting alliances that were aimed at giving the other nation states great power. However, France was not included in the plan as it was irreconcilable. Bismarck’s iron-man image and the unique personality was the crucial factor in the unification of Germany. His skill as a diplomat was unrivalled during his reign as chancellor of Prussia and Germany. The unification of Germany was because of the three wars that occurred in Germany against France, Austria and Denmark. A sense of nationalism in the German states resulted in the unification of Germany. In addition, there was some sense of superiority to their neighbouring ethnic groups like the Slavs. The wars proved to the Germna that inorder for them to industrialize and have more gains, they had to become powerful in Europe. The states in Germany had to ensure that they wee united to either support one another despite their religious differences. Bismarck’s policy was to be able to sneakily convince the people of Germany to work together against the external forces. This policy really assisted in the unification of the German empire. The German unification took place between 1862 and 1871. The book reveals how Bismarks mastery in being able to outwit other powers assisted in his success. Bismark was able to make the other leaders look pitiable. Bismark dominated because he was able to comprehend various factors that are crucial in the affairs of the international community(Steinberg 270). There were some that were linked with power than any of its contemporaries. Bismark came into power when the Napoleon’s memory was still fresh in the minds of the people. The new order that came up was premised on the belief that the goal of peace was only able to be gained by nation states who had domestic institutions that were compatible. The Russia, Austria and Prussia alliance was formed so that it could monitor the continuation of legitimist conservative states that were given to keeping the rule by their royal families. This balance of power was essectial as it was able to sustain power in Europe. When Bismarck was made Minister­präsident, all these factors were not stable. In France, Napoleon had made himself emperor by the popular vote. Parliaments were gaining more benefits and power at the prince’s expense. The Holy Allinace treaty that was made by the three nation states was now in the verge of going down. Bismark was unique as he was able to not be in the camp as well as not be in that of the ideology. In the Crimean war, Bismark was able to show the king three alternatives. First, he showed him the alliance with Russia and how it will benefit Germany through a conservative orientation. Second, an alliance with France would mean that the opposite will occur. Third, there was a sharp move to domestic policies in Prussia. This was seen through the introduction of popular vote. This step would be able to cut the ground out from under the princes. Bismarck was able to look into each institution’s principle feature and then employ them for the main design. He was able to appeal to the the czar on the principles of the Holy Alliance(Steinberg 280). He also urged France to open up toliberal institutions. To the liberals in Germany, he was able to request them to open up to liberal institutions. This was done with the prospect of gaining a popular legislature. Bismark was able to fight three military campaigns that had restricted political goals. These were intended to co-opt and not to put down the enemy. Under Bismark’s leadership, Prussia was able to be amongst the first continent to not only to start universal suffrage but also to ratify various social legislations. Steinberge notes that Bismark’s strength was mainly because his adverseries were not witty and not because he lacked strength. The Prussian empire was made up of twenty five German states of various sizes and types of government. The German federal government was made up of the executives like the staff, the emperor and the chancellor. The Budestrat or the federal council comprised of delegations that came from different German states together with their national parliament Reichstag. This parliament was not elected through any secret ballots. Despite the constitution in the fiscal year 1849, Bismarck’s failed to have any bill of right or a declaration of liberties that were fundamental to any society. Bismarck was able to give his nation a great inheritance. For instance, he gave them a unified nation state, colonial territory, a prestige that was lastly known in the reign of Emperor Barbarossa as well as social security. All these were forgotten by the successors who came much later after Bismark. The most ironic thing is that the only monument that Bismark has is a book which ought to have been written but was accidentally dismissed. As a chancellor, Bismark was able to create a parliamentary system whoch was able to consolidate power into his hands(Steinberg 300). The military system was also reinvigorated and various alliances in the region were consolidated. The parliamentary system that he creates, empowered the minority class in Prussia. However, this reinforcement was done not to benefit the minority but to ensure that Bismark’s power was strengthened. This book has been able to clearly depict Bismark’s legacy and German’s history clearly. However, Steinberg’s hostility toward Bismarck’s character at times makes him over emphasise Bismark’s individual traits instead of concentrating on his various strategic concepts that were brilliant. Bismarck was a rationalist, who’s uniqueness was the fact that he had limits and was balanced in his judgement. Bismarck’s famous quote was that statesmanship comprised of having the ability to listen carefully to God’s direction. This was what made Bismark’s legacy survice up to this present time. Work cited Steinberg, Jonathan. Bismark: A Life. Oxford University Press, USA, 2013 Read More