A Deterritorialized History: Investigating German Colonialism ...
A Deterritorialized History: Investigating German Colonialism ...
A Deterritorialized History: Investigating German Colonialism ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Yet, while there was much association between colonial commerce and the<br />
government, there were also many instances of discord. While companies frequently<br />
collaborated with the government, the relationship was a parasitical one where companies<br />
looked to their own interests almost entirely, expanding when they could and<br />
consolidating their possessions when circumstances did not allow growth. Therefore,<br />
banks and large commercial enterprises did not determine colonial policy, despite<br />
Marxist assertions. True, some heavy industrial concerns endorsed expansionist<br />
sentiment in the interests of expected profits, as Eckart Kehr and Wilhelm Deist argue,<br />
but a comprehensive capitalist conspiracy is not evident. 16 Though Müller asserts that<br />
irrespective of quiet or unrest in the colonies, finance-capital always benefited, this<br />
assertion is clearly mistaken. 17 Although the <strong>German</strong> colonies were permeated with<br />
commercial companies and interests, the economics of the colonial business were poor.<br />
For instance, the DKG für Südwestafrika reported consistently poor profits, only<br />
achieving positive results in rare years. 18 In fact, some of the best profits were achieved<br />
in early years such as 1885. This was largely the result of the years of strife that led to<br />
steady falls in net gains; for example, profits in Southwest Africa in 1904 were less than<br />
those of 1900. 19 As well, contemporary <strong>German</strong> tariff policy undermined the profits that<br />
could accrue from colonial exports. Other government regulations also made it difficult<br />
for companies to participate in the commercial expansion in the colonies. 20<br />
Assertions of conspiracies between the companies and the imperial government<br />
are further called into question by the numerous ways in which the companies took<br />
advantage of the <strong>German</strong> government. The legitimacy of Lüderitz’s appeal for Reich<br />
protection was undermined by the fact that he fabricated mineral and commercial wealth<br />
73