Bismarck and the Great Game

Germany and Anglo-Russian Rivalry in Central Asia, 1871–1890

Bibliographic Data

ID9645855
AuthorsJames Stone (0000-0001-6603-4711), James J Stone (0000-0001-8851-0467, Film Independent, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume48
Issue2
Pages151-175
Publication date2015-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCentral European History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0008-9389 • E-ISSN: 1569-1616
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0008938915000321
OpenAlexW2211893851
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

Otto von Bismarck, the first chancellor of a unified Germany, was an active participant in the Anglo-Russian rivalry for control of Central Asia. Even though Germany had no direct interests there and was never involved on the ground during the two decades of his chancellorship, Bismarck invested considerable resources in working to shape the course of events in that part of the world, stoking the flames of conflict whenever it suited the dictates of Realpolitik . Over a twenty-year period, he actively pursued a consistent strategy that focused on tying down Russian troops in the remote Asian steppes, i.e., as far away from Central Europe as possible. At the same time, he manipulated Anglo-Russian rivalry in Asia to achieve various foreign policy goals that would further German interests. This article explores in detail all of these objectives, as well as their interrelationship. In particular, it unravels the perplexing mystery of how Bismarck was able to influence the politics of Central Asia from his distant headquarters in Berlin

Ancient history · Central asia · Economic history · Economics · Economy · Geopolitics · German · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Realpolitik · Rivalry · Sociology · European Political History Analysis · History · Law · Weber, Simmel, Sociological Theory · World Wars: History, Literature, and Impact

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub