This book traces the evolution of the Austro Relations (Hungarian) -serbes from 1903 to 1914 and how this diplomatic confrontation will simbriquer in international relations.
The book is divided into 3 parts themselves divided into chapters:
- Introduction
Part 1:
- Chapter 1: Serbia ghosts present history of this small but vital (to understand the outbreak of war) countries as of 1903 hit détat
- Chapter 2: An empire without this Austro-Hungarian empire qualities.
Part II: A divided continent:
- Chapter 3: the polarization of Europe, 1887-1907
- Chapter 4: the many voices of European diplomacy
- Chapter 5: Embarrassment Balkan
- Chapter 6: Last chance. Relaxation and danger, 1912-1914
Part III: Crisis:
- Chapter 7: Murder in Sarajevo
- Chapter 8: The circle sélargit
- Chapter 9: The French in St. Petersburg
- Chapter 10: Ultimatum
- Chapter 11: Shots of reprimands
- Chapter 12: Final Days
Conclusion
The book is abundantly supplied with notes (20% of the book is assigned to the notes) and alternates brilliantly classic diplomatic history and cross-functional issues (role of the press, composition and roles of ambassadors, masculinity crisis etc).
Besides the quantity and quality of the notes, which makes this book brilliant and indispensable to understanding the events that led to war this is the choice of the author to get serious confrontation between Serbia and Austro-Hungarian Empire and to up its analysis of events of 1914 until the year 1903 (or even earlier) and describe the reasons why 10 years of international relations have led to war instead of only focusing on the 1914 crisis.
The book gave rise to a controversy since the beginning of exempting (partially) Germany and Austria-Hungary the responsibility of confit and assigning direct responsibility for the conflict to Serbia and indirect responsibility for Russia and France (for supported Serbia).
More precisely about the city states, the book leads one to think:
1) Serbia is the actor principal (with lAutriche-Hungary) this book.
The détat coup in 1903 brought to power (or close to the power and influence it) politicians, military and ultranationalist groups decided to extend the borders of young Serbian kingdom not only vis-à-vis the Ottoman empire (traditional enemy Serbia) but also vis-à-vis the ex-Austro-Hungarian ally.
Sensuit immediately a trade dispute with the Habsburg empire (the war of the initiative to pigs of it) that definitely breaks the diplomatic relations between the two states.
Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Ottoman territory was formally but in fact attributed (and occupied) to Habsburg empire since the Treaty of Berlin in 1878) is the opportunity dune new diplomatic crisis between the two states (Serbia believing that these territories, Croatia due to it right) but without serious result in the absence of support from the major European powers.
Serbia then engages in an offensive alliance with Bulgaria and Russia in 1911 to carve up Ottoman empire from its European territories: this leads to the First Balkan War of 1912/1913 and considerable tensions with Austro-Hungarian empire that imposes ( after one or two ultimatum) the creation of a Albanian state.
This first Balkan conflict is followed of a second between former allies (Serbia and members of the Balkan League against Bulgaria).
While conducting these wars in the Balkans authorities (military but with the passive complicity of the civil authorities) Serbian sengagent in a terrorist dattentats policy in Austro-Hungarian empire and particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, culminating in the assassination of the crown prince of empire to Sarajevo.
After briefly hesitated to accept Austro-Hungarian Ultimatum, Serbia finally chose confrontation after confirming the Russian support.
2) Lempire Austro-Hungarian which is the other major player in this book.
Ally and "boss" traditional Serbia, détat shot 1903 in this country practically overnight causes a conflict between the Empire and the young Serbian kingdom that still hardens annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the same time, the Austro-Hungarian empire is engaged in a struggle with Russian empire of influence in the Balkans: unlike the latter, Austro-Hungarian empire seeks to preserve the status quo and not to destabilize the region.
The outbreak of the Balkan Wars in 1912 by the Balkan League (under the patronage of Russia) leads to very high international tensions between Austro-Hungarian empire against Russia (reciprocal mobilizations) and Serbia (Albanian constitution of a state under pressure Austro-Hungarian empire and after 2 ultimatum sent to Serbia).
It also leads to a return to the forefront of the previous chief détat major (Conrad von Hotzendorf) recovers his post and starts to flood policymakers requests wars "preventive" against lItalie and Serbia.
These requests have no effect and face the political dapaisement and desired internal reforms larchiduc Franz Ferdinand until the assassination of the latter by Serbian secret service in Sarajevo.
From there, policy makers opt to hire a limited war on Serbia but slow political appliance (and military) Austro-Hungarian empire to conduct prevents the accomplished fact (just trigger a war after lattentat) asked that his ally German.
Shipment of a ultimatum serves only as a pretext for war.
3) Russia:
After his defeat against Japan in 1905, Russia is reorganized quickly and incurs significant military reforms to make the first of his army on the continent (which worries its neighbors including lAllemagne).
This military policy dual dune Panslavism promoting aggressive diplomacy aimed particularly to the Balkans and the Ottoman empire turf.
This results in the creation of the Balkan League under Russian patronage which aims to carve up the Ottoman empire and its European territories to prevent any Austro-Hungarian action for "the man sick" OF EUROPE (Russia sengageant to go to war against lAutriche -Hungary if it intervenes in favor of the Ottoman empire).
Similarly Russia is 2 fingers to launch an ultimatum lAllemagne to demand the departure of the German military mission Ottoman empire (only the refusal of France and Britain sassocier this project prevents Russia published its ultimatum).
However, Russia loses its control proxy that tear in the second Balkan War which allows Austro-Hungarian empire to be closer to Bulgaria and endanger hegemony (short but real) Russian in the Balkans.
At the Sarajevo crisis, Russia resolutely undertakes alongside his Serbian ally (the Russian government is now dominated by the pro-war hawks): his decision of giving rise to mobilize its armed forces creates an irreversible military gear to generalized war .
4) LAllemagne:
LAllemagne is not the focus of this book, it is described as an essentially conservative power that wants to maintain the statutes quo from international treaties.
She soppose and walking toward vis-à-vis war Ottoman empire of his Italian ally.
The great General Staff, however, feels hard encirclement of Germany by a dangerous enemy coalition (Russia, France, UK) and especially the resurgence of Russian military power that ultimately may shake up the European military balance.
This leads one to consider the possibility of a preventive war without its opinion initially ninfluence political elites.
The Balkan wars however are a Russian lhostilité revelation and bring political and military elites to consider greater diplomatic risk taking on the premise that in any case, war seems inevitable.
Lattitude of Germany, however, goes in the direction of diplomatic upheaval lapaisement Completion of Sarajevo.
Lattentat Sarajevo brings lAllemagne to support its ally in its war localized project (Serbia), however, in advising Austro-Hungarian empire to go quickly (what it failed) to the other European powers with a fait accompli.
LAllemagne remains very cautious and withdrawn during much of July before waking up suddenly during the Russian mobilization: from this time (but not before), the military pushing for widespread war on Russia and its French ally via the actuation of Schieffen plan.
5) France:
Revanchist but prudent policy of France is presented in a double face:
- Very cautious in Europe in order to avoid any war, including starting any war in the Balkans (French leaders get that Franco-Russian alliance not nintégre Balkan events)
- Aggressive in the world even cause diplomatic crises (Morocco, Fashoda)
This double prudent policy ends with the arrival of Poincare to power: it now agrees to support diplomatically and militarily any Russian adventure in the Balkans even though the dalliance Russian-Bulgarian-Russian treaty (that he knows) provides the dune trigger war offensive located in Ottoman empire and Expansion possibility of this conflict lAutriche-Hungary.
This is the opportunity for Poincaré (and the French military?) To imagine an ideal scenario where war Austro-Hungarian empire is entangled in the Balkans leaving his only ally face the combined forces of Russia and France.
After lattentat Sarajevo, France advocates firm against Germany and Austria-Hungary and even seems to be the first major power to accept widespread conflict under the scenario described above.
6) Great Britain:
British policy seems to be based on the need to neutralize Russia (and save Empire dune confrontation with Russian Bear overseas) accepting an alliance with the Franco-Russian bloc.
This alliance resulted in greater cooperation and military cooperation beginning with French ex-enemy that produces in-extremis effects upon the entry into war (this being decided at the last minute).
Finally in addition to the game in different countries (and the controversies on French politics generated by the Clark book), which seems to me important to note this is the crystallization of alliances and diplomatic choices when the first two Balkan wars that are really matrix of the First World War.
