The Behavior of European Population - Essay Example

The Behavior of European Population in 1914: A Case Study of the Bargaining Hypotheses Introduction The European population comprised of traditional people mainly Christians. As per the bargaining hypotheses, the European community faced a per-industrial period that was characterized by many factors. Concurrently, this is the time that Europe was expanding its political capabilities in the acquisition of colonies (Fromkin 27). The per-industrial period exposed the European population to economic openness and a penchant for conquest. Among other aspects, demographic shadings from one place to another reflected physical constraints and local customs. During this time, the cost of warfare had escalated due to the economic power of the people had significantly opened up. According to the bargaining power hypotheses, the whole process is characterized by assumptions model; and beliefs. As per the assumptions, the first premise assumed during the 1914 period in Europe was expectations. The government of the time rested its governance on a mix of tacit, customary and formal (constitutional) expectations. The expectations concerned the level of government output (balance of costs and benefits) for the rulers and those ruled. Another expectation is bargaining. The assumption under this is that the level of costs and benefits are attained through a negotiation process between the rulers and those ruled (Fromkin 39). The hypotheses greatly suggest the modification of behavioral patterns for the European population. The main reasons attributed to were the costly expansion in the political bargains. Such aspects correlated strongly to the increase in the cost of warfare. Hypotheses Discussion During the period, Europe was undergoing tremendous transitions in many sectors. More so, this was the time when the governments were running their agendas to acquire more territories. The balance of power became an important task due to world war on was declared during this period (Kindsvatter 10). Applying the bargaining hypotheses to discuss the behavior of Europe population during this time brings out various outputs. Most of the countries were scrambling to exploit resources due to the industrial revolution that occurred at the time from colonies (Fromkin 173). According to the hypotheses assumption, the more a population had, the more it had to lose. This is an asset binding assumption that well applies to this discussion (Fromkin 180). Major developers of the world war one believed that they held the balance of power upon declaration of the war. The behavior at this time may be described as that of a mixed nature. The main reason being that the population from different countries all over Europe was divided on different lines especially economic bargaining (Kindsvatter 31). They were also divided when it came to ways of fighting. A conflict of interest presented itself in the manifestation of time and evolution of technology. The various traditional ways of fighting could not blend the modern techniques. According to the book, ‘Europe last summer’ (Fromkin 188), arguments on who to blame emerged as soon as the world war began. Eventually, Germany was blamed for starting the war. Great interests to powers characterized the overall behavior. For instance, Austria wanted to crush Serbia to benefit its population with economic opportunities (Fromkin 190). On the other hand, Germany wanted a preventive war such that she would emerge the victor before Russia further industrialization. France was weak and exposed to challenges from other populations of the wider Europe. Every population was in for different selfish interests. Some of the interests were valid because they protected the welfare of the society. Others were selfish because they were aggravated to exploit the weakness of other peoples (Kindsvatter 52). Strategic Bargain The bargaining hypotheses offer four strategic deals. These agreements are identified as strategic choices and in agreement with the behavior of Europe in 1914, the four bargaining strategies are the strategic choices used by most of the countries (Fromkin 209). The many economic opportunities presented by various situations also made the population (the ruled) (Kindsvatter 59-60) diverge their attention to other subjects. As per the hypotheses, rulers were tasked with responsibilities to mobilize domestic resources and managed internal resistance by binding the ruled intents to state survival. This was an asset binding strategy that aimed at taming the wild behavior of the subjects (Kindsvatter 100). Most of the European governments required their citizens to pay taxes. And at this time, rulers gained permanent war taxation in exchange for various items. For instance, the taxes were used to enhance security both internally and externally (Fromkin 233-34, 237). The taxes were also used to improve legal rights and privileges of the citizens. Radicalization characterized the population of the time. Per se, radicalization is used because this stage most people used rebellions and other radical tactics to aggravate for their grievances (Kindsvatter 141). The extreme measures were attributed to technological advancement, economic expansion and growth, social development and balance of power systems. The behavior led to the emergence of the First World War. The European power and the crisis of balance-of-power are the key factors that resulted in the development of world war one. The balance of power system divided Europe into two camps. The first camp was made of Great Britain France and Russia (Fromkin 257). This group strove to ensure that the balance of power and its fragile nature among the European countries was maintained. The second division comprised of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. This group was the challenger to the first group’s mission. What emerged was a hostile attitude between the populations of the two groups. And as per the hypotheses, conflicting interests especially those build on asset binding are focused to develop hostility (Kindsvatter 153). The Franco-Prussian war had a great impact on the behavioral atmosphere of the populations. During this war, France was greatly humiliated where it lost its captured territories of Alsace and Lorraine and above it forced to pay a huge indemnity to Prussia (Fromkin 286). As a result of the war, the mighty German empire emerged. The accession of Wilhelm II to the German throne developed a hostile behavior where foreign policy became more bellicose. His emergence to power saw the sucking of Otto von Bismarck from the chancellorship (Kindsvatter 177). The Economic climate became hostile due to factors such as the refusal to renew the reinsurance treaty with Russia. In agreement with the bargaining hypotheses, the behavior of the European population certainly took a different turn characterized by hate and aggressiveness (Fromkin 290). The treaty was one of the peace factors that maintained good relations between German and Russia. It helped in keeping France isolated, a move that prevented aggression. Consequently, this became a unification factor for the formation of the future triple entrance (Kindsvatter 201). The Russo-Japanese rivalry over Manchuria and Korea brought the Russo-Japanese heights. The war outcome was a major blow to the Russians. They lost almost the entire Baltic and Pacific fleets. As a result, a series of severe political crises emerged. The crises led to the Russian revolution (Fromkin 291). Behavioral adaptation to the environment led to German militarism. The war saw the build-up of naval power which convinced Great Britain to enter into an alliance with France (Fromkin 302). As per the hypotheses, certain behaviors led to the introduction of alliances that were geared towards individual goals such as uniting against a common enemy (Kindsvatter 210). The bargaining hypotheses stipulate that strategic military technology guards the behavior of other enemies. As of the statement, most of Europe population was issued with permanent employment in the armies and facilitated with the technological know-how for battle (Fromkin 307). Most of the rulers adopted conscription bargaining. They gained fiscal and debt resources and mass constrictions in exchange of mass citizenship. Imperialism is one of the factors that caused world war one. Most points of contention became the center interest to almost all the main colonizers who turned on each other (Kindsvatter 217). Consequently, the increase in competition for colonies as well as desire to maintain greater empires increased behavioral; conflict among Europe’s population. Nationalism is also a characteristic behavior of the people in Europe at the time. Most of the great powers were faced with intense nationalism. Factors such as revenge and anger became eminent in the population behavior (Kindsvatter 239). Most wanted to seek justice and retaliation in ways they only believed were beneficial to them only. For example, the people in Berlin Vienna, and Paris greeted the outbreak of war with great cheers. The people of Europe were gladly enjoying the outcome of their behavior towards each other (Fromkin 387). The alliances sought to be stronger due to the war plans they harbored within their circles. They would transfer troupes into locations that were most anticipated to start wrangles in order to fuel the war (Fromkin 430). Behavioral mobilization became very rampant due to such activities. As much as the leaders tried to foresee brighter futures, mobilization continued to gain deeper roots in the heart of the population. After mobilization had taken center stage, all parties became even more aggressive on enemies (Kindsvatter 244). Before 1900, there were three crises that contributed significantly to fueling of the war. The three crises are the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the first Moroccan crisis, and the second Moroccan crises. These crises affected the population by hardening their attitudes and increase in distrust between the different European powers. As a result, the alliances became even stronger and aggressive. The worst of all is that domestic hostility became an imminent challenge. Most of the population had the notion that a short victorious war would put an end to class differences (Fromkin 451). They also hoped that it would reduce the support for socialism. Socialism had imminent dangers such as threatening to diminish the existing order at the time. Crises on income tax and length of military service also attributed aggression from the populations (Kindsvatter 250). Conclusion The bargaining hypotheses are an important aspect of the discussion of the behavior of the European population in 1914. It offers a better explanation of the underlying bargains that transform subjects and citizens into keen supporters of their stats in times of crises. For instance, a state death is described as a destruction of the asset value of national membership. The hypotheses are relevant in pointing out the domestic capabilities of people and its influence on behavior. Works Cited Fromkin, David. Europe’s Last Summer: who started the Great War in 1914? Vintage Books. 2005. Kindsvatter, Peter S. American Soldiers: ground combat in the World Wars, Korea, and Vietnam. University Press of Kansas. 2003. Read More