Rethinking History: How Incompetent Leaders Like Kaiser Wilhelm II Shape World Events
By
Kiran Pfitzner
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Summary
This article examines the "Great Man" theory of history (popularized by Thomas Carlyle) through the lens of Kaiser Wilhelm II, arguing that incompetent leaders can be just as historically impactful as great ones. It critiques the traditional focus on elite individuals in historical analysis, using Wilhelm II as a case study to show how mediocrity and incompetence can shape world events. The article challenges the notion that history is solely driven by exceptional individuals, suggesting that flawed and mediocre figures also leave indelible marks on history.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledWilhelm wished to be 'the stag at every hunt, the bride at every wedding, and the corpse at every funeral.'
Thomas Carlyle famously claimed that 'The history of the world is but the biography of great men.'
The theory does not account for mass politics or leave room for the histories of tho
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