Why couldn't European nations esp superpowers such as France use "divide and conquer" on each other like they did in the rest of the world?

Question

Main details here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/EarlyModernEurope/comments/7xteg5/why_couldnt_european_nations_esp_superpowers_such/

Why is there such a paradox regarding Divide and Conquer, colonialism, and uniting Europe?

Answer 1

There is a history of shifting alliances in Europe. That's why Hitler, Napoleon and Kaiser Wilhelm were all unsuccessful.

Answer 2

France was never a superpower.

It never had a strong central government.

Answer 3

Lol okay first. France, a superpower? XD maybe 400 years ago but not so much now. They are a world power, but not a superpower. Their military strength is made up of a fairly decent navy and the GIGN police units. They don't really have much of an army. Also, such a tactic may have worked (and to a point, did) during the age of the Holy Roman Empire when their territories and the French territories effectively isolated the western kingdoms from the East, however that would not work today as supplies and forces can effectively be dropped from any point on the planet via aircraft. Also the economies of most European nations have been for a long time, pretty self sustaining. Dividing their forces would have little impact and only create a fight on two fronts (as Hitler found out). Lastly, they have no reason to start fighting to begin with as most of Europe is starting to become unified and regularly trading resources with each other to keep the general economies going strong.

Answer 4

They did, they lost. Napoleon Bonaparte tried to boss Europe first by beating the Austrians, the Polish and Italians. The English beat him up at sea and then Wellington booted him out of Portugal and Spain. Napoleon was the first General to use conscription to create his army of world beaters, but was undermined by the English, Dutch and German forces. How ironic. Its very hard to dominate an area the size of Europe, the last leader to really make a massive empire from China all the way to Eastern europe was Ghengis Khan. But that was way back in the 12C.

Answer 5

Number of manpower available really hinders things.

Answer 6

Why would they want to? War costs money and lives and if European countries turn on each other first they wouldn't use 200 yr or more methods to do so, second they would have no reason to conquer or ability to control another country and France is the last country who could do it anyway....let alone the fact they would be in breach of a treaty

Answer 7

well, classically the elites at the top worked together on things, inter-married ect ... but really these days thats exactly what we're seeing with them pouring in immigrants to muddy and destroy classic culture .. its a 'conquering' by the elite to unify it under centralized control ... by them ..