In a riveting discussion, historians Dominic Sandbrook, Max Hastings, John Charmley, and Margaret MacMillan debate Britain's involvement in the First World War. Sandbrook critiques the emotional basis of war decisions while Hastings questions the portrayal of Germany as the sole aggressor. Charmley highlights the complex motivations behind intervention, and MacMillan warns against glorifying warfare. They explore the nuanced impacts of British actions, ponder alternative outcomes, and urge careful examination of historical narratives that shape modern foreign policy.
01:35:33
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Cost of WWI for Britain
Britain's participation in WWI was a mistake, incurring a devastating human cost.
The war also led to economic decline and the eventual loss of the British Empire.
insights INSIGHT
German Militarism Reconsidered
Germany in 1914 was not the militaristic power often portrayed; its army was smaller than France's and Russia's.
Germany had a strong socialist party, trade unions, and a developed welfare state.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Allies' Contradictions
Britain's allies in WWI included militaristic France, repressive Tsarist Russia, and expansionist Serbia.
These alliances challenge the narrative of Britain fighting for freedom and democracy.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
This book provides a detailed examination of Britain's foreign policy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, exploring how key figures like Disraeli, Salisbury, and Grey influenced Britain's position in the world. It argues that Britain's increasing entanglements with European powers contributed to its involvement in World War I. The book draws on previously private papers to offer a nuanced view of British diplomacy during this period.
Catastrophe
Max Hastings
In 'Catastrophe 1914', Max Hastings provides a comprehensive account of the events leading to World War I, focusing on the dramatic first year of the war. He explores the breakdown of diplomacy and the pivotal battles in Europe, arguing that Germany and Austria-Hungary were primarily responsible for the conflict. The book offers a detailed analysis of military strategies and political decisions, highlighting the human cost and the inevitability of a war of attrition.
Kaiser Wilhelm II
A Concise Life
Nicolaus Sombart
John C. G. Röhl
This book provides a concise and accessible survey of Kaiser Wilhelm II's life, from his troubled youth to his role as Germany's Supreme War Lord during World War I. It explores his involvement in social and political scandals, his nationalism, and his passion for the navy, which drove his ambition to transform Germany into a global power. The book concludes with his exile and his efforts to persuade Hitler to restore him to the throne.
The War that Ended Peace
Margaret MacMillan
The World Crisis
1911-1918
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
The World Crisis is Winston Churchill's six-volume account of the First World War, published between 1923 and 1931. The book is a mix of military history, diplomatic and political history, and personal memoir. Churchill vividly recounts major campaigns such as the Marne, Jutland, Verdun, and the Dardanelles, and provides detailed descriptions of the dawn of modern warfare, including trench combat, artillery, and chemical warfare. The work is highly personal and analytical, with Churchill justifying his role in the war and offering critiques of military strategies. It is considered one of Churchill's masterpieces and an essential read for understanding the twentieth century[1][3][5].
1984
None
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
For this week's Sunday Debate, we're dipping back into the archive to 2014, when we gathered a panel of expert historians to debate whether Britain was right to fight in the First World War, a tragedy that laid the foundations for decades of destructive upheaval and violence across Europe. To debate the issue, we invited leading historians Margaret MacMillan, Max Hastings, John Charmley and Dominic Sandbrook to an event hosted by journalist, columnist and national security expert, Edward Lucas.
We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be about. Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com.
At Intelligence Squared we’ve got our own online streaming platform, Intelligence Squared+ and we’d love you to give it a go. It’s packed with more than 20 years’ worth of video debates and conversations on the world’s most important topics as well as exclusive podcast content. Tune in to live events, ask your questions or watch on-demand, totally ad-free with hours of discussion to dive into. Visit intelligencesquaredplus.com to start watching today.
Intelligence Squared 
