In your opinion, could the Fachoda crisis have led to a world war?

[Julie4]

[RavVid]

I hadn't heard of the Fachoda crises (Fashoda Incident?) till your question but I had been reading a little on the Scramble for Africa.

What it was more likely to have done I think was to damage the possibility of the entente with France and had consequential impact on WW1. On the enemy of my enemy etc basis. Before then there were some that thought Germany was more Britain's natural ally. The dreadnought struggle with Germany had been comprehensively won by Britain by 1912 so there could have been kiss and make up diplomacy.

Had Fashoda not been so restrained then it could have become a hot war but I think just between the French and English. Possibly the question is could the Scramble for Africa have become a general European war with Fashoda the touch powder?

I think it is hard to rate that as much as 40-50% and therefore less than a reasonable prospect. As much as 30% (Probably Not) seems too high as well so I would go for a rating of Almost Certainly Not.

Being fanciful for a moment, had Fashoda become hot, Britain had used Maxim machine guns in Africa at the beginning of the decade and Gatlings much earlier. I have no idea if Kitchener had Maxims with him or if the French had Maxims in service but it could have been - shall we say instructive - to both the French and British had that occurred.

[RyanEC]

I don’t think tension were high enough.
I think Germany was seen as a bigger enemy by both countries.

[YesterdaysChild]

I wasn't around in 1898 to even know what it was about.

[KostasKouvalis]

I don't even know what that is. How the hell do you know all this stuff?😂

[KostasKouvalis]

By the way, I'm still curious what your opinion is on the whole world being scared to death of China.

[Julie4]

Not everyone is scared to death of China. China is the world's second largest economic and military power, and a strategic threat. It is therefore a nation that cannot be ignored in international relations.

But today, China's economy is slowing down, its population is aging compared with the US and it still has a long way to go before it can overtake the US. If you ask me, given its demographic situation, aging population, rising unemployment and economic slowdown, China won't overtake the USA.

Just so you know, Obama, Trump and Biden are all following the same strategy when it comes to China.

[KostasKouvalis]

I know, TRUMP wasn't.
Obama borrowed money from them and Biden is kissing their asses.
Trump would have held them accountable for COVID and probably recognized Taiwan's sovereignty by now

[Julie4]

No Trump didn't when he was in power and he never would have.

What's more, all 3 of them are activating military alliances all around China to contain it, starting with Obama, Trump has continued this and Biden is doing the same

[RyanEC]

Julie knows so much because she is an intelligent educated lady.

I wish more people had a stimulating mind like Julie.

[OddBeMe]

It’s Fashoda…but sure. WW1 was a colonialist wet dream by Kaiser Wilhelm. To be fair, British and French, as in Fashoda, had theirs.