The outbreak of the First World War : 1914 in perspective

This new book provides a synthesis of the latest historical research into why in 1914 a Balkan conflict escalated into a general European war.

It focuses on the decision-making of each Power during the July-August crisis, and analyses the roles of domestic politics, economics, cultural factors, militarism, imperialism, and the international political system.

Attention is given to source material and to historiography, notably the controversy surrounding the work of Fritz Fischer.

There is an extensive annotated bibliography.