The Origins of World War IRichard F. Hamilton, Holger H. Herwig Cambridge University Press, 2003 M02 24 - 537 pages This work poses a straightforward - yet at the same time perplexing - question about World War I: Why did it happen? Several of the oft-cited causes are reviewed and discussed. The argument of the alliance systems is inadequate, lacking relevance or compelling force. The arguments of mass demands, those focusing on nationalism, militarism and social Darwinism, it is argued, are insufficient, lacking indications of frequency, intensity, and process (how they influenced the various decisions). The work focuses on decision-making, on the choices made by small coteries, in Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, France, Britain and elsewhere. The decisions made later by leaders in Japan, the Ottoman Empire, Italy, the Balkans, and the United States are also explored. The final chapters review the 'basic causes' once again. An alternative position is advanced, one focused on elites and coteries, their backgrounds and training, and on their unique agendas. |
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action agreement Albania ally ambassador Anglo-Japanese alliance argued army Asquith attack August Austria-Hungary Austrian Austro-Hungarian Balkan Wars Belgium Belgrade Berchtold Berlin Bethmann Hollweg Britain British Bulgaria cabinet Central Powers chief China conflict Conrad constitutional coterie decision makers declared diplomatic discussion Dual Monarchy economic elites emperor entente Europe European Falkenhayn forces foreign minister foreign policy France France's French Fritz Fischer Geiss genrō German Germany's Greece Greek Grey Habsburg Hoyos Ibid Imperial intervention Italian Italy Italy's Jagow Japan Japanese Joffre July Crisis kaiser Katō Katō Takaaki King later leaders Liberal Lichnowsky London Macedonia military Ministry mobilization Moltke nationalist naval Navy neutrality Nicholas officers Ottoman Empire Paris party peace Petersburg Poincaré political prime minister Romania Russia Russo-Japanese War Sarajevo Sazonov Schlieffen Schlieffen plan Serbia Serbs Staff Strategy territory threat tion treaty Triple Alliance troops tsar ultimatum Vienna Viviani Wilhelm Williamson Wilson World Yamagata Yamagata Aritomo York