Lecture # 15 Politics in the Lecture # 15 Politics in the Age of Progress (1850 -1914) Age of Progress (1850 -1914)

Abul Kalam AzadAbul Kalam Azad

Senior Lecturer in Senior Lecturer in Sociology Centre for GED, Sociology Centre for GED, NUBNUB

IntroductionIntroduction

The strongest political forces of the The strongest political forces of the period were the spread of period were the spread of democratic institutions and democratic institutions and nationalism.nationalism.

Most western European countries Most western European countries had formed a national identity and had formed a national identity and initiated democratic reforms before initiated democratic reforms before the eastern European countries. the eastern European countries.

Great Britain Great Britain

Politically, if not always socially, great Politically, if not always socially, great Britain continued on the path of Britain continued on the path of liberal democracy.liberal democracy.

Britain still had its royalty, its lords Britain still had its royalty, its lords and ladies, an established church and and ladies, an established church and a people very respectful of law and a people very respectful of law and tradition. tradition.

After 1884 virtually every male After 1884 virtually every male householder or renter in Great Britain householder or renter in Great Britain could vote. could vote.

Great BritainGreat Britain

Restricted Restricted womenwomen suffragesuffrage came came in 1918 and full suffrage in 1928.in 1918 and full suffrage in 1928.

The The House of LordsHouse of Lords of most of its of most of its former power and made popularly former power and made popularly elected elected House of CommonsHouse of Commons (elected parliament) supreme. (elected parliament) supreme.

Great BritainGreat Britain

Yet until the end of the nineteenth Yet until the end of the nineteenth century, both the Conservative and century, both the Conservative and Liberal parties were controlled by Liberal parties were controlled by the aristocracy and the wealthy the aristocracy and the wealthy bourgeoisie. bourgeoisie.

Between 1871 and 1914 Britain Between 1871 and 1914 Britain increased its imperial holdings and increased its imperial holdings and joined other nations in a joined other nations in a dangerous…dangerous…

Great BritainGreat Britain

……international rivalry that international rivalry that combined nationalism and combined nationalism and militarism.militarism.

Many well-to-do British thought Many well-to-do British thought themselves to be so superior to themselves to be so superior to the other peoples of Europe.the other peoples of Europe.

Great BritainGreat Britain

Great Britain’s commerce with its Great Britain’s commerce with its empire was enormous.empire was enormous.

In 1914 Britain’s foreign investments, In 1914 Britain’s foreign investments, most of which were in the empire, most of which were in the empire, totaled $20 billion one fourth of the totaled $20 billion one fourth of the total wealth of the home land.total wealth of the home land.

By comparison France had $9 billion By comparison France had $9 billion invested abroad; Germany $6 billion. invested abroad; Germany $6 billion.

Great BritainGreat Britain

The United States was a debtor The United States was a debtor nation.nation.

Britain’s richest imperials prize Britain’s richest imperials prize was India.was India.

India’s more than 300 million India’s more than 300 million inhabitants accounted for at least inhabitants accounted for at least three-fourths of the total three-fourths of the total population of the whole empire.population of the whole empire.

Great BritainGreat Britain

It was mother country’s best It was mother country’s best customer and supplied many customer and supplied many minerals and raw materials. minerals and raw materials.

France France

Democratic government did not work Democratic government did not work so smoothly in France as in Great so smoothly in France as in Great Britain. Britain.

The tradition of extreme The tradition of extreme individualism, the animosity between individualism, the animosity between clericalistclericalist and and anticlericalistanticlericalist, the , the sharp cleavage between radical sharp cleavage between radical urban Paris and conservative rural urban Paris and conservative rural France… France…

FranceFrance

All contributed to the formation of All contributed to the formation of a multiplicity of political parties. a multiplicity of political parties.

During the forty-three years from During the forty-three years from 1871 to 1914, no fewer than fifty-1871 to 1914, no fewer than fifty-one ministries attempted to govern one ministries attempted to govern France.France.

As the twentieth century opened, As the twentieth century opened, democratic government in France democratic government in France appeared to be firmly established…appeared to be firmly established…

FranceFrance

and increasingly responsive to and increasingly responsive to the will of the masses.the will of the masses.

Factory laws were giving the Factory laws were giving the workers increased protection, a workers increased protection, a limited program of limited program of unemployment, old age, accident unemployment, old age, accident and sickness insurance was and sickness insurance was inaugurated.inaugurated.

ItalyItaly

End of nineteenth century although End of nineteenth century although Italy has a Italy has a liberalliberal government, yet government, yet the right to vote was limited to the the right to vote was limited to the middle and upper classes, who middle and upper classes, who constituted a small minority of the constituted a small minority of the nation’s population. nation’s population.

Italian government became involved Italian government became involved in the shifting international in the shifting international alliances…alliances…

ItalyItaly

of the period and the nationalistic of the period and the nationalistic race for colonial possessions. race for colonial possessions.

Economic and social reforms to Economic and social reforms to benefit the working classes were benefit the working classes were enacted under the government of enacted under the government of 2020thth Century and in 1911 Century and in 1911 universal male suffrage was universal male suffrage was enacted.enacted.

Other Countries in Other Countries in EuropeEurope

Belgium adopted universal male Belgium adopted universal male suffrage in 1893.suffrage in 1893.

Here the weighted vote was Here the weighted vote was established, men of wealth and established, men of wealth and education getting two or three education getting two or three additional votes.additional votes.

The Dutch Netherlands extended The Dutch Netherlands extended the suffrage in 1887 and again in the suffrage in 1887 and again in 1896;1896;

Other Countries in Other Countries in EuropeEurope

In 1917 all adult men and women In 1917 all adult men and women were given the right to vote.were given the right to vote.

Norway adopted universal male Norway adopted universal male suffrage in 1898, Sweden 1909 suffrage in 1898, Sweden 1909 and Denmark 1914.and Denmark 1914.

In 1913 Norway became first In 1913 Norway became first European country to grant the European country to grant the vote to women.vote to women.

Conclusion Conclusion

The Western world’s technology, its The Western world’s technology, its dynamic capitalism and above all its dynamic capitalism and above all its aggressive nationalism had enabled aggressive nationalism had enabled it between 1871 and 1914 to subject it between 1871 and 1914 to subject most of the rest of the world to its most of the rest of the world to its domination.domination.

In the process of that western In the process of that western countries exploited the natural and countries exploited the natural and ……

ConclusionConclusion

human resources also undermined human resources also undermined the cultures, societies and political the cultures, societies and political organizations of native lands and it organizations of native lands and it was so destructive. was so destructive.

In 1914 most people in the Western In 1914 most people in the Western world had come to view imperialism world had come to view imperialism as a normal and permanent state.as a normal and permanent state.