Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 - Christopher Clark

Video Description

00:00 // Introduction: Setting the Stage for 1914 01:54 // The Balance of Power in Europe 04:20 // The Alliance System and Its Tensions 07:12 // The Rise of Nationalism and Imperial Rivalries 09:52 // Military Planning and Mobilization Strategies 12:42 // The Role of the Press and Public Opinion 14:55 // Austria-Hungary's Internal Struggles 17:10 // The Assassination in Sarajevo 20:00 // The July Crisis Begins 23:32 // Austria's Ultimatum to Serbia 26:40 // Germany's "Blank Cheque" Support 29:25 // Russia Mobilizes: Eastern Pressures 32:05 // France’s Position and War Planning 35:10 // Britain’s Dilemma and the Belgian Question 38:05 // The Final Countdown: Declarations of War 41:50 // Europe Engulfed: From Crisis to Conflict 45:12 // Why War Was Not Avoided 48:35 // Reflections on Responsibility and Blame 51:20 // Conclusion: Lessons from 1914 This lecture explores new ways of understanding the crisis that brought war to Europe in the summer of 1914; reflects on some of the problems of interpretation that have dogged the debate over the war's origins; and considers the contemporary resonance of a catastrophe that is now nearly a century old. The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College Website: http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/sleepwalkers-how-europe-went-to-war-in-1914 Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/ Website: gresham.ac.uk Twitter: twitter.com/GreshamCollege Facebook: facebook.com/greshamcollege