WEAKNESSES AND FAILURE

WEAKNESSES AND FAILURE
i) The unrealistic constitution
The 1871 constitution was unfair as it favoured Prussians to the disadvantage of other Germans. For instance, the constitution made Prussians dominant in the Bundesrat and Reichstag through which policies that favoured Prussian dominance in German affairs were made. This was denounced by other German states like Bavaria and Wurttemberg who had strong economies. Consequently, they neglected policies from the central government and threatened to secede (break away) from the German empire. Non Prussians therefore remained discontented throughout the Bismarckian era.
ii) Failure of the Kulturkamf i.e. against the Catholic Church
Bismarck's anti catholic policies was unsustainable and consequently he dropped it in 1879 when he reconciled with the Pope. Bismarck had coerced the Catholic Church through the May laws, intimidation, imprisonment, exile and death of Priests, Bishops and Catechists. However, these suppressive measures made Bismarck very unpopular amongst the Catholics in Germany and all over Europe. Even German liberal Protestants were alarmed and criticized Bismarck for his persecution of the Catholic Church. The Kulturkampf threatened his achievements In the Berlin congress of 1878 and the Dual alliance of 1879 (Austro-German alliance) since
Austria is a staunch catholic state. Worst of all, the German Catholics appealed for assistance from France and she was bound to use it as an opportunity to revenge against Germany. This factors forced the 'iron chancellor" to "bend down", negotiate with Pope Leo XIII and reconciled in 1879.He signed an agreement in which he suspended the May laws and gave back the catholic church its former powers except inspection of schools and holding of civil marriage. To this extent one can justifiably regard the Kulturkamf as a struggle that became impossible to sustain.
iii) Failure to destroy Socialism and the Social Democratic Party
Bismarck failed to contain the growth of socialism and the influence of Social Democratic Party in Germany.
Inspite of the exceptional law of 1878 and welfare schemes of 1883 and 1884, socialism and the Social Democratic Party became stronger. For instance, the number of Socialist representative in the Reichstag increased from 3 in 1871 up to 44 by 1890. Internally, the 44 representatives in the Reichstag utilized their parliamentary immunity to condemn Bismarck's anti-socialist campaigns and popularize socialism.
Externally, the socialist exiles co-coordinated their movement from exile and sent more socialist pamphlets into Germany, which kept the spirit of socialism alive.
Bismarck realized that force was not a solution to socialist influence. He cowardiced and adopted the "positive approach to socialism" or "State socialism" in which he granted insurance and pension schemes in 1883 and 1884 respectively. Nevertheless, Bismarck's concessions and generosity still failed to turn the workers and socialists on his side. This is because the key targets of high wages, low working hours, paid leave and minimum wages were not addressed. Consequently, the socialists continued opposing him and by 1890 when Bismarck resigned, the number of the socialist supporters had increased to 1.5 million. This shows that Bismarck's struggle against the socialists was a failure and a boomerang that finally led to his downfall. This is because his struggle against the socialists was one of the issues that brought him into loggerheads with Kaiser William II and caused his downfall.
iv) Germanisation policy
Bismarck forcefully Germanized the minority races within the German Empire. The policy of Germanisation forced the minority French, Danes and Poles to become part of the united Germany against their will. They were forced to abandon their mother language and use the German language. The policy denied such minority nationalities their right to self rule and subjected them to German domination which is against the principles of liberalism and nationalism. This explains why there was intensive opposition most especially from the French in Alsace and Lorraine right from 1871 up to 1890 when Bismarck resigned.
vi) Inconsistency over trade policy
Initially, Bismarck pursued a free trade policy, which won for him the support of National Liberal Party most of whom were traders.-However, from 1880, Bismarck realised that the free trade policy was detrimental to the industrialization of Germany and changed to a protectionist policy, .However, the policy undermined the business of the German National Liberal Party business men merchants and the Jews. It's-because cheaper goods especially from the more industrialized Britain from which they used to get bigger profit margins were restricted. The policy made the liberals through the National Liberal Party and Jewish traders ally and wage serious campaign against Bismarck in the parliament and throughout Germany. Thus, although the change from a free trade policy to a proctionist policy safeguarded infant industries, it nevertheless attracted resistance from the National Liberal Party traders and the Jews.
v) Inconsistent colonial policy
Bismarck failed to sustain his anti colonial policy in the long run. He had a pre conceived negative attitude towards colonies that he sarcastically remarked that colonies are not worth the hones of a single German soldier. However, during the scramble and partition of colonies, German industrialists and traders pressurized Bismarck to abandon his anti colonial policy and acquire colonies primarily for economic motives. There was therefore a public outcry for colonies that forced Bismarck to allow the establishment of German colonisation society led by Karl Peters to acquire colonies in Africa. Eventually Germany acquired colonies like Togo land and Namibia in Africa by 1890. The shift from anti colonial policy to colonisation is inconsistency in policy which one can consider a failure.