The rise of the German menace : imperial anxiety and British popular culture, 1896-1903
This dissertation argues that the idea of a German Menace was not simply a product of concerns about the defence of the British Isles, but rather it was born out of the mentality of British imperialism. Over the period 1896-1903, imperial antagonism between Germany and Britain, in various contexts around the globe, inspired the popular perception of the German Menace as a distinctly imperial threat. Where the established historiography locates the beginning of the Anglo-German rivalry within the development of the naval armaments race after 1904, this study traces the British fear of Germany much earlier and, crucially, much further away from the shores of the North Sea. The Dreadnought Race was a product of pre-existing anxieties; this thesis will explain the context of imperial anxiety out of which the coherent concept of the German Menace developed. It reveals how specific imperial crises informed British popular beliefs and how the stereotypes of German covetousness, autocracy and efficiency coalesced to form a powerful force in British society and politics that had reached its peak by 1903. By 1903 Germany was widely regarded as a menace to the British Empire.
Longson, Patrick Adam
D204 Modern History ; DA Great Britain ; DD Germany
The rise of the German menace : imperial anxiety and British popular culture, 1896-1903. This dissertation argues that the idea of a German Menace was not simply a product of concerns about the defence of the British Isles, but rather it was born out of the mentality of British imperialism. Over the period 1896-1903, imperial antagonism between Germany and Britain, in various contexts around the globe, inspired the popular perception of the German Menace as a distinctly imperial threat. Where the established historiography locates the beginning of the Anglo-German rivalry within the development of the naval armaments race after 1904, this study traces the British fear of Germany much earlier and, crucially, much further away from the shores of the North Sea. The Dreadnought Race was a product of pre-existing anxieties; this thesis will explain the context of imperial anxiety out of which the coherent concept of the German Menace developed. It reveals how specific imperial crises informed British popular beliefs and how the stereotypes of German covetousness, autocracy and efficiency coalesced to form a powerful force in British society and politics that had reached its peak by 1903. By 1903 Germany was widely regarded as a menace to the British Empire.
rise german imperial anxiety british popular_culture argues idea german simply product concern defence british_isles rather born mentality british_imperialism period imperial antagonism germany britain various context around globe inspire popular_perception german distinctly imperial threat establish historiography locate begin anglo_german rivalry within development naval armament race study trace british fear germany much early crucially much away shore north_sea race product pre_existing anxiety explain context imperial anxiety coherent concept german develop reveals specific imperial crisis inform british popular belief german autocracy efficiency coalesce form powerful force british_society politics reach_peak germany widely regard british_empire