The Influence of Sea Power upon History

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Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914) has in his 1890 published book The Influence of Sea Power upon History (Eng .: The influence of sea power on history ) the importance of sea ​​power for the course of history, the development and the armed conflicts of Nations described. At all times, the rule of the sea and overseas trade had an impact on the political, military and economic development of peoples. Mahan distinguishes between pillars and conditions as the basis of sea power.

The cornerstone of sea power

Foreign trade, merchant and navy as well as colonies and bases are described as the cornerstones for the status of sea power of a state. The maritime trade routes have always been the cheapest and most efficient means of transport for raw materials and products. For these nations, trade by sea forms the focus of the foreign trade economy using their own merchant navy. To protect this merchant shipping, naval forces are required, which require colonies and bases for the conduct of the trade and their logistical support.

Conditions for the status of sea power

Mahan's conditions are less political than natural factors resulting from geography, physical properties, extent of the sphere of influence, population, the character of the people and the character of the governments and national institutions of a country.

The geography of a country as bordering the sea, the length of the coast, the island-like or rather continental character of a country shape the development of maritime thinking and the use of trade by sea. As a consequence, the security interests of a country will be more maritime or continental due to its geographic location. The physical nature of a country contributes to prosperity through natural and strategically well-located ports and navigable rivers and promotes a maritime-oriented economy.

Likewise, a harsh climate, a lack of natural resources, and a lack of economic self-sufficiency can drive maritime trade and thinking. The defense of this sphere of influence requires a sufficiently large population, including a proportion of the population experienced in the maritime sector as a recruiting reservoir for the fleet. The sum of these conditions is reflected in the national character of a nation, which sees the focus of its economic interests in overseas trade. It also includes an understanding of the tasks and dealing with the population in the colonies and bases, since economic exploitation alone does not contribute to the success of colonies / bases in the long term. The government of such a state will therefore be guided by a maritime-political understanding in the exercise of foreign and economic policy. This also means maintaining sufficient naval forces, regardless of the current threat situation.

history

The fundamental validity of the statements made here can be understood using the example of the 2nd and 3rd Dutch-British Naval War, the Palatinate and Austrian War of Succession, the North American War of Independence and the Seven Years War , to name just a few.

effect

The present-day system of maritime strategies with its definition of naval power is based on Mahan's considerations. His book has had a huge impact on politicians and soldiers since it was published. In his time, Mahan designed a holistic system for assessing the pillars and conditions of sea power. In its basic statements, it is timeless. This is evident today from developments in China, India and Japan. In Germany, Mahan's thoughts were heeded during the time of the German Empire 1871–1918 and especially under Alfred von Tirpitz's naval policy .

In Germany, Mahan's thoughts are still alien to historians, politicians and the media, although 91% of all products and raw materials are imported and exported by sea. In a world in which 81% of all states are bordering the sea and the sea covers 71% of the earth's surface, Germany remains continental. This situation is mitigated by the German membership in a maritime alliance, NATO.

literature

  • The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783 . Little, Brown & Co, New York 1890. (5th edition of 1894 reissued : Dover Publications, 1987, ISBN 0-486-25509-3 )
  • German Edition: The influence of sea power on history (Berlin: Mittler, 1896, 2nd ed. 1898). ("In translation published by the editorial team of the Marine-Rundschau") ( 2nd edition by Hathitrust )
  • New edition: The influence of sea power on history 1660–1812. Edited by Gustav-Adolf Wolter , Koehler, Herford 1967
  • The Influence of Sea Power on History Vol. 2, 1783–1812: The time of the French Revolution and the Empire (at the instigation of the Imperial High Command of the Navy) trans. by Karl Ferdinand Batsch u. Karl Paschen (Berlin: Ernst Siegfried Mittler and Son, 1899), xxx + 704 pages. ( Vol. 2 at Hathitrust )