Economic issues were more important and extensive in Europe before both World Wars had begun. In the year 1914, the economic ties were more vital than ever before in the history. However, Britain and Germany pursued different goals because of their foreign policies; at the same time, they were major political and economic powers in Europe. Germany became very aggressive and perpetrated the expansionist foreign policy.
Britain, on the other hand, came up with an ambivalent policy where conciliation and balancing were part and parcel of it. There was economic interdependence lacking, which was the cause of a profound impact on Germany, Britain as well as France (Merriman 821).
As such, the balance of power politics emerged despite the powerful European nations pursuing different policies based on their domestic political mechanism, which in turn led to aggravated political and economic interests.
Germany
Inflation had struck the country along the major economies in Europe that were adversely affected after the First World War. Germany was hit and suffered the hardest consequences which further touched other eastern European states.
Even though Germany was defeated, it was not completely destroyed; because of its territory most countries in the regions were susceptible to its economic and diplomatic strategies (Merriman 825).
The government was willing to increase the market for its products. It made attempts to trade with Russia but later turned to France and Britain since Russia proved hard to penetrate into its market. Gustav Stresemann helped Germany as a foreign minister to reconcile past grievances, and then created new economically detrimental aspects contained in the Treaty of Versailles.
France
The country, on the other hand, was desperate to maintain its military power over Germany. France thus established new alliances with counties that were in the east of Europe including Poland, Romania and Czechoslovakia. It reconsidered the strict provisions of the Treaty of Versailles after Germany contravened the agreement that led to Locarno incidence.
Britain
Britain and France led reconstruction after the War had been over as they were seriously weakened by the consequences of the war. The consequences of the war left them struggling economically, and, as such, they began to lose interest in their colonies.
Having failed to avert depression, Britain created a coalition government (Merriman 791). The government abolished the gold standard, revised the trade tariffs, and created state funded production quotas.
Movements
Several movements were very crucial in balancing the power in Europe. Fascism as an ideology that made governments exalt the nation over individuals and advocated for centralized government led by powerful leader, was a major factor.
Fascism led Europe through economic and social regimentation and forceful suppression of those opposing the government (Merriman 876). This ideology was mostly perpetrated by Mussolini, the ruler of National Fascist Party of Italy; it then spread to Germany with Hitler becoming very powerful.
Intellectual movements were devised by young thinkers who thought that there was an intellectual vacuum in the governance of Europe. Existentialism and Marxism grew and spread very quickly.
Existentialism was highly fought by those in power but as culturally dominant movement, the debate generated tension, France thus becoming reputable because of developing new ideas to rebuild nations. Marxism was greatly fought by Hitler but capitalism found its way allowing social democracies to thrive, among them trade unions, parliament and welfare services.
Works Cited
Merriman, John. A History of Modern Europe, Vol. 2: From the French Revolution to the Present, 3rd Ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2010. Print