This thoroughly revised edition has been updated to incorporate recent case studies, biographies, syntheses, journal articles and scholarly conferences that appeared in conjunction with the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War in 2014.
The original version of this work, published by James Joll in 1984, quickly became established as the authoritative introduction to the subject of the war’s origins. Significantly expanded by Gordon Martel in 2007, this volume continues to offer a careful, clear, and comprehensive evaluation of the multitude of explanations advanced to explain the causes of the cataclysm of 1914, addressing each of the major interpretive approaches to the subject, with essay-like chapters addressing the alliance system, militarism and strategy, the international economy, imperial rivalries, the role of domestic politics and the ‘mood’ of 1914. This edition offers an extensive new introduction, a new conclusion (including ‘ten fateful choices’ that led to war), an entirely new chapter on the July Crisis, and a vastly expanded Guide to Further Reading.
Covering over a century of controversy and scholarship, The Origins of the First World War is a valuable resource for all students and scholars interested in this major conflict.
Author(s): James Joll, Gordon Martel
Series: Origins Of Modern Wars
Edition: 4
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 404
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series
Title
Copyright
Contents
List of maps
Preface to the fourth edition
Preface to the third edition
Preface to the second edition
1 A century of explanations
The Fritz Fischer debate and the new left
A new Cold War consensus?
Coming in from the cold
Re-evaluating Habsburg Austria
State-sponsored terrorism?
Russia: evil empire or trembling giant?
France the forgotten
Neo-revisionism, Germany and world power
Britain: Brexit and the continental commitment
2 The July Crisis
Austria-Hungary prepares an ultimatum
The ultimatum is presented
The diplomatic crisis
Europe mobilizes
3 The alliance system and the old diplomacy
Alliances and the balance of power
The alliance system
Britain and the end of isolation
The triple entente
The alliance system and crisis diplomacy
The Balkan challenge to the alliance system
Alliances in disarray
4 Militarism, armaments and strategy
The Russo-Japanese War and the Anglo-German rivalry
Britain and the continental commitment
Franco-Russian preparations
The Habsburgs and their allies
The Serbian challenge
War planning and the July Crisis
5 The primacy of domestic politics
Germany
Austria-Hungary: the dual monarchy
Russia
France
Great Britain
Italy
The ambiguity of domestic politics
6 The international economy
The armaments industry
Finance and investment
Trade and commerce
The economy and war planning
7 Imperial rivalries
Competition for empire
The imperial imagination
Imperial diplomacy
Empire and the European crisis
8 The mood of 1914
Movements against war
Socialism and war
Patriotism and nationalism
Darwinism and militarism
Groups and movements
Futurism and war scares
9 Reconsidering responsibility: 10 fateful choices
Measuring actions: 10 fateful choices
Further reading
Maps
Index
