The above statement seems to be closely associated in spirit with the German theory of the Sonderweg. Overall, this theory assumes that, unlike most Western nations, Germany has remained undemocratized, failing to free itself from concentrated control in the hands of a small group of traditional elites, with disastrous consequences. The statement describes Bismarck, the Reich Chancellor, as a man in whose hands the fate of the Reich was controlled. However, the German Empire was not as firmly under Bismarck's subjective control as the statement would suggest, and indeed as he would have liked. As Volker Berghan argues, more recently historical writing has been characterized by methodological and thematic diversity with the result that our understanding has become more sophisticated. He cites Geoff Eley as a historian who identified that the history of the Reich is not exclusively the history of a small group of manipulative elites; the historical reality is much more complex and interesting. If one looks beyond the general trends of the Sonderweg, it becomes clear that Bismarck's control over Germany was not as overwhelming and effective as the statement in the question would suggest. It is questionable whether he retained the initiative by dividing Germany. While Bismarck's legacy may have ultimately had disastrous consequences, which can be traced to the lack of unity in German society, there are also indicators of a certain degree of unity and democratization within the Empire. The argument that goes hand in hand with the meaning of the declaration highlights the following developments within the Reich between 1871 and March 1890, when Bismarck was deposed by Wilhelm II. Bismarck identified the Reichsfeinde and set in motion an absolute repression... middle of paper... because of the division and the dangerous legacy it left behind, there were forces driving national and liberal unity that pushed more and more Bismarck out of the driving seat. In terms of the statement in the question it is more accurate that Bismarck attempted to rule Germany by exploiting the divisions caused by the modern and national era. However, many of his policies failed. The hardening of dividing lines led to deep-rooted bitterness and alienation, which in the long term would resurface to prevent a united democratic front in Germany. The Kulturkampf, the passing of anti-socialist laws and the introduction of customs tariffs all deviously and repressively plotted to ensure Bismarck's primacy. But we must not ignore the political evolution that can be traced throughout the 1870s and 1880s, which saw genuine support for German unity and resisted Bismarck's divisive policies..