napoleon IV
Sheer Animal Cunning of the Groundhog
- Location
- Washington, Douglass Commonwealth
- Pronouns
- he/him
Of course, there's also the fact that the assumption that a different German Emperor would radically change things falls way too far into Great Man Theory. Even assuming that there was an "enlightened" monarch waiting in the wings structural issues limit his influence (this is also the problem that confronts any scenario where Fredrick III survives). For example, the Junker class would still be extremely powerful (as the saying goes "If Prussia ruled Germany than the Junkers ruled Prussia, and through it the Empire itself"), and as reactionaries they're going to oppose any liberal reforms. Similarly, by 1918 Germany was effectively a military dictatorship, with the High Command managing much of government policy and making it so that Chancellors served at their pleasure. The end of WWI presents an opportunity for civilians to regain control over the government, but the military is going to be reluctant to hand over power and has the prestige of having won WWI on their side. Besides, none of the potential Kaisers are going to be particularly willing to challenge the military. Finally, having a pan-European empire and being mortal enemies with Britain is also going to encourage conservativism and militarism as a way to maintain order, as well as stir the general population's sympathies for those ideologies.
Basically, monarchs who want to make massive reforms require a degree of support from elements of the system. Even when it seems like the monarch is just riding roughshod over everyone (like Peter the Great) they're still limited by the system and have to build support for their reforms. And there simply isn't the institutional or popular support for liberal reforms in 1918 Germany.
Basically, monarchs who want to make massive reforms require a degree of support from elements of the system. Even when it seems like the monarch is just riding roughshod over everyone (like Peter the Great) they're still limited by the system and have to build support for their reforms. And there simply isn't the institutional or popular support for liberal reforms in 1918 Germany.