1. According to Ferry, what recent developments in world trade have made it urgent for France to have colonies?
Ferry sees the growing economies of Germany and the United States are becoming more of a nuisance. He also worries about protectionism making it hard to sell to their world markets. Countries often go back and forth between ideas of free trade or protectionism. Ferry is fearful of traditionally French markets like South America falling to become American markets. Most importantly, Ferry makes the point that the geopolitical climate is growing more competitive. In a world like this, inaction leads to stagnation. If the French do not go for more colonies they will be unable to maintain their impressive spot as a first-rate superpower. …show more content…
The French are no exception. He also appeals to patriotism by saying the French Navy needs more ports to ensure safety and strength. Specifically, he talks about how France needs a port for their ships to stop at and refill on coal at least every two weeks. Conquest of the supposedly uncivilized is painted as a humanitarian mission. If one were to ask the Vietnamese guerilla fighters revolting against French colonialism I suspect they would have a much less forgiving view. Ferry seems to be implying that not engaging in this next wave of colonialism is equivalent to France stepping down as one of the great powers of Europe. He says that such a fall from grace will occur much more swiftly than his fellow Frenchman seem to think. The subtext implies to me that the prestige of France is also on the line. One interesting line is when he refers to expansion into Africa and the Orient as an adventure. I can see the appeal and adventure of visiting new lands. However, the activities performed in these lands were often brutal. It is interesting to see such an appeal to emotion for national action. I have gotten some similar impressions towards advertisements by the United States Military which describe service as a humanitarian adventure. It seems that in the time period of Jules Ferry, Europeans were ultra-nationalists which saw non-white races as inferior. This idea probably has not faded away from international subconscious. In World War 2 Germany had their own modernized take on colonialism or living space. Part of the shock from this event is what led to successful colonial independence movements post World War
Ferry sees the growing economies of Germany and the United States are becoming more of a nuisance. He also worries about protectionism making it hard to sell to their world markets. Countries often go back and forth between ideas of free trade or protectionism. Ferry is fearful of traditionally French markets like South America falling to become American markets. Most importantly, Ferry makes the point that the geopolitical climate is growing more competitive. In a world like this, inaction leads to stagnation. If the French do not go for more colonies they will be unable to maintain their impressive spot as a first-rate superpower. …show more content…
The French are no exception. He also appeals to patriotism by saying the French Navy needs more ports to ensure safety and strength. Specifically, he talks about how France needs a port for their ships to stop at and refill on coal at least every two weeks. Conquest of the supposedly uncivilized is painted as a humanitarian mission. If one were to ask the Vietnamese guerilla fighters revolting against French colonialism I suspect they would have a much less forgiving view. Ferry seems to be implying that not engaging in this next wave of colonialism is equivalent to France stepping down as one of the great powers of Europe. He says that such a fall from grace will occur much more swiftly than his fellow Frenchman seem to think. The subtext implies to me that the prestige of France is also on the line. One interesting line is when he refers to expansion into Africa and the Orient as an adventure. I can see the appeal and adventure of visiting new lands. However, the activities performed in these lands were often brutal. It is interesting to see such an appeal to emotion for national action. I have gotten some similar impressions towards advertisements by the United States Military which describe service as a humanitarian adventure. It seems that in the time period of Jules Ferry, Europeans were ultra-nationalists which saw non-white races as inferior. This idea probably has not faded away from international subconscious. In World War 2 Germany had their own modernized take on colonialism or living space. Part of the shock from this event is what led to successful colonial independence movements post World War