Origins of the First World War / Gordon Martel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Martel, Gordon.

Series:

Seminar studies in history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1914-1918--Causes.

World War, 1914-1918.

Europe--Politics and government--1871-1918.

Europe.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xxvii, 160 pages, 4 pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.

Edition:

Revised third edition.

Place of Publication:

Harlow, England ; New York : Pearson Longman, 2008.

Summary:

Origins of the First World War summarizes the policies, issues and crises that brought Europe to war in 1914. Martel explains the position of each of the great powers and their place in the system of alliances which dominated international politics. He examines the strategic and political problems that confronted each power and the way in which social and economic factors influenced the decision-making process. In a clear and accessible manner, the book demonstrates: How and why the alliance system was created, How it led to a network of complicated strategic commitments, How an escalating series of international crises from the turn of the century fuelled preparations for war, Why the peculiarities of the Balkans are essential in understanding the outbreak of war in 1914.

Incorporating the latest scholarship on the subject, this revised third edition provides a Guide to Further Reading, Who's Who and Glossary. The comprehensive selection of Documents include key treaties, crises and representations of popular militarism and nationalism. The book provides students with the clearest, most concise, accessible and up-to-date account of the origins of the First World War available.

Contents:

Who's Who xv

Part 1 Analysis and Assessment 1

1 The Problem 3

The Outbreak of War 3

Explaining Causes 5

2 The Great Powers to 1900 16

The Triple Alliance 16

The Dual Alliance 32

Great Britain 43

3 The European Crisis 50

The Diplomatic Revolution 50

The Vortex of South-eastern Europe 63

4 Assessment 79

Part 2 Documents 89

1 The Dual Alliance 90

2 The Triple Alliance 90

3 Bismarck's Eastern Policy 91

4 The Kaiser and Bismarck's Departure 92

5 The 'Willy-Nicky' Correspondence 93

6 The Franco-Russian Alliance 94

7 Franco-Russian Military Convention 95

8 The 'Kruger Telegram' 96

9 The Tirpitz Memorandum of June 1897 96

10 Germany and 'World Policy' 97

11 Economic Parasites of Imperialism 98

12 The Anglo-Japanese Alliance 100

13 Germany, Britain and Morocco 100

14 Manifesto of Futurism 101

15 The Black Hand 102

16 Capitalism in the Balkans 103

17 Russia's Balkan Policy 105

18 Lloyd George's Mansion House Speech 105

19 The 'War Conference' of December 1912 106

20 Germany, Sir Edward Grey and Foreign Policy 108

21 English Opinion and the Triple Entente 109

22 Germany and the Assassination 110

23 The Kaiser's 'Blank Cheque' to Austria 112

24 Germany's Balkan Policy 112

25 Russia and the Threat of Revolution 113

26 The Policy of Sir Edward Grey 114

27 The Austrian Ultimatum 115

28 Italy and the Breakdown of the Triple Alliance 117

29 Serbia's Reply to the Ultimatum 118

30 Britain's Response to the Serbian Reply 120

31 Germany's Response to the Serbian Reply 121

32 The Russian Mobilisation 123

33 Germany and the Next War 123.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [152]-154) and index.

ISBN:

9781405874311

1405874317

OCLC:

191898288