THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Running Head: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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International
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1
Introduction
The purpose of this essay is to focus on the comparison between the German Empire and the
United States of America (USA). Germany is a country situated in Central and Western
Europe with a population of 67 million; its capital is Berlin which has a population of 3.7
million. German Empire is termed as Imperial Germany which includes 26 states ruled by
most of the royal families. In Germany, the industrialization takes place after 1850 which
results in strengthening its chemicals, coal, railways, and iron sector. It is deemed as one of
the scientific, industrial, and technological giant compared to other countries. Germany was a
world leader in industrialization by 1900 while catching up to other major countries such as
the USA and the United Kingdom (UK)1. In the world, Germany has the strongest army along
with fastest development of rail network and great power as rapid-growing industrial base2.
On the other hand, American Empire was named as American Imperialism where people call
it a fictional country. The country aims to extend the cultural, political, and economic control
over the areas beyond the boundaries of the US. In and after 19th century, the imperialism
policy of this country started where the US’s government never named its regions as an
empire. The country was alleged of neo-colonialism where the economic power is used
instead of military power like Germany3. This essay will discuss in relation to political
structure, social order, imperial rise and decline, power projection, and economic
development and trade relations of both the USA and German Empire. The argument will
focus on analysing the key differences and similarities between the two countries based on
these factors.
Political Structure
There are many similarities and differences in the US and German Empire in terms of
political structure. Germany’s government type is federal republic with sixteen states whereas
in the case of US, the government type is constitution-based federal republic. In the case of
the US, democratic traditions are strong as compared to Germany. The unification of
Germany was a key event in the history which shaped its political and administrative
structure in which the German Empire and Reconstruction for rise of imperial republic to lead
with power across the globe and declining of the German Empire. In Europe, it was essential
1 Hoogenboom, Kissane, Prak, Wallis, and Minns, “Guilds in the transition to modernity: The cases of Germany,
United Kingdom, and the Netherlands,” 255-91.
2 Cox, 500 Years of GDP: A Tale of Two Countries.
3 Immerwahr, How the US has hidden its empire.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 2
to balance the guardian and dominant sea power which affected Germany as well. In the case
of US, the power politics is with moral aspects since the country shows mysterious
relationship between morality and power4. The relations of German-American show
welcoming of the prospect through self-determination, unity, and liberty. Moreover, the
process of German reunification becomes possible after the Second World War which shaped
its political structure. Germany was ready to guarantee its stated democratic rights, principles
devotion, and federalist structure maintenance of a social market economy. In 1990, the
expectation was looking towards reunited Germany as a democracy of Western-style with
small European model of the US. This shows a major similarity between the two nations in
terms of political structure. Germany’s opinions, stereotypes and prejudices were different
from the US with its political developments such as change in political fortunes and political
judgements of America concerning the German Empire. Also, political situation dependence
was based on Americans picking up some stereotypes from the Germany’s typical images set
as developed later5. Both the countries have bilateral relationship considering the existence of
German policy in the US. The special mission as an idea of America been a part of American
political culture shaped as the Enlightenment spirit.
The political structure of both these countries has also shaped their legal systems as well. In
the case of Germany, there is a civil law system while in the case of US, its common law
system that is applied at the federal level. In case of the US, the Senate is included in the
bicameral Congress as per its legislative branch whereas Germany’s Federal Council is
included in the bicameral legislature which is the difference between the two nations political
structure. In 1871, there was an excellent political relationship between the German Empire
and the US. The existence of new founded German Empire was considered differently from
the American image. So, there were no such conflict areas significantly at that time as the
energies were absorbed by the continent settlement, South’s reconstruction and
industrialization with the foreign policy. There was no reason for the Americans to complaint
about the German Empire when the great transformation between German and American
relations taken place6. Between 1914 and 1916, this change in image of Germany was the
responsibility of partial neutrality policy pursue by the US. Later, the diplomatic relationship
was created characterizing cooperation and conflict in limit. There was a quantitative change
within the political and economic structure at the time of imperialism among the changing
4 Douthat, The Fall of the German Empire.
5 Kaiser Wilhelm II.
6 Baranowski, Nazi Empire: German Colonialism and Imperialism from Bismarck to Hitler, 368.