THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Running Head: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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International Relations
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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.

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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.

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position of both countries. Moreover, involvement in trade controversies such as mid-1880s
pork war for development with the German Empire’s image changing not based on the real
conflicts. There is incredible economic growth along with world politics showing parallels
and similarities in foreign policies substantive aspects of both the nations7. In trade, this
increase in economic growth turned the US and Germany in both competitors and partners. In
both of them, there was exerted successful pressure based on powerful interest groups and
political parties within governments adopting protectionist measures. These events shows
major changes that supported and shaped the political structure of both the US and Germany.
Social Order
Social order is maintaining inter-relationships among the individuals in the society by
structuring it with moral, traditions and values. In the case of Germany, it is considered as an
evil empire after the two world wars particularly by people of America since it was not
possible to maintain the policy indefinitely certainly between 1914 and 1916 in the US8. The
ethnic identity of both the countries was destroyed at the time of World War I which affected
social orders in both countries. After the Second World War, Germany became an evil empire
in the eyes of most nations which negatively affected its social orders since it becomes
difficult for its citizens to migrate to other countries. Other than this, there was the
comparison between the countries’ legal and social aspects along with democratic theory
between the US consisting the South and Imperial Germany that was high differentiated
which affected its social order. Another key challenge was that Thomas Woodrow Wilson,
President of the US from 1913 to 1921, issued hated comments against the German Empire
after the announcement of Zimmermann telegram and unlimited submarine warfare posing a
threat to interests and the US’s prestige, also imperilling the historic mission9. These
historical incidents shaped the social order of both Germany and the US.
Imperial rise and decline
German Empire is also referred as Imperial Germany which was a German nation state in
1871 until it was abducted by Emperor Wilhelm II in 1918. On the other hand, the US
heavily relied on military power which reinforced its empire; however, it was challenged by
the number of factors such as asymmetrical wars, political system, rapidly increasing debt
and slow-down in economic growth. Both these countries conflicted interests in relation to
7 Schilling, “German Postcolonialism in Four Dimensions: A Historical Perspective,” 427-39.
8 Fortier, World War I & Its Aftermath.
9 Naranch and Eley, German Colonialism in a Global Age, 432.

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imperial rise and decline, for instance, German Empire pursued protectionist tariff policy
where it was told them to protect on primary base of its agricultural interests. There was a
conflict between both the nations where the US thought of Germans protecting their agrarian
markets while the German Empire was unhappy after thinking about Americans shielding
their industrial markets. Thus, the USA and German Empire became imperialist countries by
1914. Moreover, the US created its formal and informal empire among the Caribbean and the
Pacific for strengthening the position10. It helps in moving towards open-door policy
enforcement rather than protectionism getting support of the German Empire sometimes
keeping fair self-importance. Moreover, there is an aggressive nationalism in both the
countries relating to ideologies based on times specifically such as racism, navalism, and
world power theories. There was a common problem of both the countries while sharing
growing world powers. With the changing image of America, Germany faced many
challenges since it was competing against the country; the American Empire was totally
becoming wealthier than the German Empire11.
At the time of imperialism, the German Empire was greatly transformed by 1914 and it lost
its “Little America” position in Europe. During the 1890s, the Germany’s culture settled
substantially in American admiration at the same time where England and France cultural
impacts growing in the US. The German Empire and William II parts countered the
worrisome trend consisting inappropriate gifts and cultural exchanges which did not altered
their situation materially. In Germany, there was presumptuous, autocratic, rude, militaristic
criticism that was a threat to civilization becoming more pronounced in the US. Furthermore,
there was exploitation by American and British war propaganda at the time of the First World
War which portrayed a negative image of Germans12. So, there was a clear picture of
transformation affecting the America’s image development of Germany during World War I
that is crucial to explain as an essential aspect where the German Empire was held in the trap
of Manichaean that also can be termed as the historic mission of America. These examples
show that both the World Wars had a significant impact on rise and decline of both German
and American Empire13.
Power Projection
10 Stuchtey, Colonialism and Imperialism, 1450–1950.
11Guenther, “Gateway to the World”: Hamburg and the Global German Empire, 1881-1914.
12 Immerwahr, “The Greater United States: Territory and Empire in U.S. History,” 373-91.
13 Moore and Vaudagna, The American Century in Europe, 286.

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Power Projection is a term used as force projection referring to sustaining and deployment
forces with the ability of power used in international relations. In the case of Germany and
the US, both these countries heavily rely on power projections to show their status in the
world. There was existence of autocratic governments where the controlling of organized
power was present along with the danger to individual’s freedom and peace all over the
world. Here, the US only fought for the liberation and permanent peace for everyone
including the people of Germany as well where the feeling was of just friendship and
sympathy which shows a positive power projection and it was necessary for the world to be
safe for democracy14. On the other hand, Germany was using power projection in a negative
manner to rule over the world and eliminate democracy from major countries. In 1918, the
demand was raised for ending the German Empire with its previous form of constitution for a
government change and democratic legitimation considering anyone in negotiations of future.
Also, this was known as the “revolution from above” showing parliamentary monarchy
change where its leadership anticipated the desire of Wilson. There was large part of the
German public equally well-known concluding to correct the statements of Wilson where the
president of America actually demanded the emperor abdication and transition to German
republic through power projection. This created the pressure on William II from all sides
increased due to everyone’s sacrificing expectation of immoral use of power projection by
the country15. Still, there was no end of the Empire or changes in Germany as altered as per
the less harsh conditions for leading to achieve peace based on the expectations of the
country. This shows that both the countries have different approach when it comes to power
projection since the US use it for betterment of the world whereas German Empire wanted to
use its power to negatively impact democracy at a global stage.
Economic Development and Trade Relations
In economic development, maintaining trade relations is a key factor for boosting and
creating gains in the nations where partners are involved. Germany and the US thought of
bringing peace in the economy for developing and maintaining relationships based on
trading. However, Germany was still the one that out-breached the European war based on
various factors along with Wilson’s increasing tendencies. Further, there were no chances of
looking at the new Germany as it was only the old Germany with new guise16. So taking
power politics into consideration, the European policies of Wilson appeared to be triple
14 Hoyng, WWI and America's Rise as a Superpower.
15 Fulbrook, A Concise History of Germany, 306.
16 Lee, 42 maps that explain World War II.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 6
containment posed by Germany and the Soviet Union aiming to contain the threat to Europe
for meeting the desire of security concerns along with power allowance. Though, the decision
was taken to give Germany a chance with the period of correct reform, remorse, and
repentance for returning back the countries family as a respected power and proving as
capitalist and liberal democracy. The enlightened self-interest of America as a part was ready
to support such change for integrating Germany again by serving ultimately into the
economic world and political Europe. These two nations showed their way of enlightening
peace differently where in the case of Germany, they fought for it and created war, and in
case of the US, they did it peacefully and using their power in a right way even after they
tried to support Germany once for betterment. So, this was clearly the general tendencies
comparing the relationship between the USA and German Empire within the time being of
1923 and 1929 especially17. Hence, there is warfare, diplomacy and alliances between the
historic relations between the USA and Germany, also termed as bilateral relations.
Moreover, it consists of economic relations as well that are intellectual and cultural
interchanges, trade and investments, and migration and demography.
At once, America tried to take an attempt of stabilizing the Europe’s situation consisting
economic stability along with the possibility of political stability that were achieved by the
treatment of entering security. Here, the support from America unregulated Germany’s role
of helpless object18. Moreover, there were larger credits of America granted to Germany and
greater economic interests of the US in Germany. Also, greater interest showed the peaceful
change in America which was its ultimate goal and the position of the Germany was renewed
along with equal rights in Europe being a major power19. However, the presence of World
War I in terms of trade power and economic made the US dominant that builds position and
strength across the globe. So, the difference in relation to power between a defeated Germany
and the victorious US tremendously resulted in the virtual disappearance from the public
view of the Weimar Republic in the US while only the informed segment, small of public
remained involved in Germany’s developments20. These criteria influenced both the nations
in a different way in terms of trade relations and economic development.
Conclusion
17 Frum, The Real Story of How America Became an Economic Superpower.
18 Stevenson, How the First World War ended.
19 Phelan, "HOW THE CENTRAL POWERS WERE DEFEATED, JULY–NOVEMBER 1918," 24-27.
20 Kitchen, The Ending of World War One, and the Legacy of Peace.

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In conclusion, the USA is much more developed than the German Empire but stable enough
to stand against it in case of political and economic stability. The US and Germany are
marching forward in a noble and great adventure in the human civilization cause. Both of
their political structures are different which are affected by in large number of historical
events which shaped both the nations. The US has a positive social order than compared to
Germany after the two world wars. The imperial rise and decline of Germany affected its
economy and overall growth when compared to the US; its empire declined rapidly after the
two world wars. The argument was clearly shows the US stronger than the German Empire
by entering into the war and destroying Europe’s new orders. It helped in securing the future
position while building the world power and creating further mottos. Both the countries have
used power projection in a different manner from one another; the US used the power
projection to save the democracy whereas Germany used it to become a world leader. This
created the development of technology in new military formation and made a planning
assumption for domination all over the world. The German Empire was destructed where
Germany had to surrender unconditionally along with a negotiated settlement based on both
moral and political reasons in the economy. This shows that Germany’s division and
dismemberment was effective for keeping the evil empire from dropping the third global war
in the world. The economic development and trade relations between the two countries were
also affected by the World War; however, since then, both the countries have reconciled in
order to support each other through positive trade relations which reinforce their economic
growth.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 8
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