Was Bismarck’s foreign policy clever or foolish? Explain.?

Answer 1

He worked for peace. The Three Emporers Alliance failed, so he arranged a defensive alliance with Austria-Hungary. When Russia and England were about to go to war over the Carthaginian peace imposed on Turkey, Bismark arranged peace talks. How can one complain about a politician who worked so long and hard for peace when all the neighbors were itching for a fight? Still the world was changing, including Germany, and the old answers didn't fit so well anymore. I don't think it was foolishness on Bismark's part, more short-sightedness on everyone else's. Henry Kissinger admired Bismarck's "statecraft" but found fault with relying on a balance of power--which is an amazing thing considering Kissinger's State Department role in the Cold War balance of powers to avert WWIII.

Answer 2

His policy was a bit of both.The clever reason was the making of a new and strong Germany which would later on create a strong state that would start WWI which was a foolish reason.