why cooperation failed in 1914 course

Europeans exaggerated the efficacy of offensive military strategies and tactics; overestimated the hostility of neighboring states; falsely believed that strength and bellicosity could intimidate opponents; exaggerated the economic value of empire; believed that war itself was beneficial; and taught themselves a mythical nationalistic history.

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When did diplomacy fail?

Diplomacy failed in 1914 - it must not fail now

What would happen if the West tries to contain rather than engage Russia?

If the West tries to contain rather than engage Russia, it will create an adversary where it desperately needs a partner. Words remain our best weapons, writes Ivor Roberts. One hundred years ago, diplomacy failed and the world descended into war. Outrage at recent events in Gaza and Ukraine may be justified, but although the risks ...

Has Israel given up on diplomacy?

It often seems that Israel has given up on diplomacy: the best it can hope for from its troublesome neighbours is a fragile ceasefire, so it tries to make the cost of breaking it intolerably high - for Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and so on. Where diplomacy is off the agenda, despair fills the vacuum and the cycle of attack and counter-attack will be set to continue. After more than six decades of the existence of the State of Israel, is this the best the international community can do?

Is there a war in August 1914?

With the centenary of the guns of August heralding the start of World War I upon us, no one can fail to be struck - or deeply alarmed - by how many major outbreaks of violence are taking place in different parts of the world simultaneously. And although today nobody is predicting a general war, perhaps we should remember that only months before the commencement of hostilities in 1914, commentators were assuring readers that a general war would be impossible - because the world had become so economically interdependent. And you thought globalisation was new?