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World War I, the first globally destructive conflict that the Western Civilization produced, has been the subject of various analysis, interpretations and reevaluations of the various causes that led to it. Initially, the guilt was placed upon Germany and its allies. Eventually, historical analysis conducted in decades after the event, lead to a shift from the guilt perspective, to a broader one of various interacting factors. Although almost nine decades have elapsed, one question still persists: "Which explanation is best suited as the cause of WWI?" To provide an answer, the views of six historians shall be considered. To begin, James Joll's answer to the question will be examined. It will be seen that he considered several factors that, according to him, interlinked and lead to the conflict. Five additional explanatory models will be analyzed: those of historians Arno Mayer, Wolfgang Mommsen, Donald Lammers, Micheal Gordon and Konrad Jarausch. They concentrated on more spe!cific issues as part of interpreting the causes of the conflict. In his 1980s book The Origins of the First World War, historian James Joll offers an explanation linking the entire social, political and economic spectrum of 20th C. Europe. First, he starts
The reality was that all geographical areas that could be colonized or incorporated in spheres of influence, such as Africa, China and Latin America, had been fully partitioned. The arms race, nationalism, strategic alliances, economic rivalries were in fact long term subservient effects of Imperialism. By the time civilians were rejoicing in the capitals, the war had already started, as orders had been issued days before and the troops were already proceeding towards their initial objectives. Nevertheless, Joll points out that domestic policies played a part, but not a big one as to lead to war. The Germans consolidated their southern flank with an alliance with Austro-Hungary. The British solved political problems within the parliament; the Germans diverted them in foreign policy. The immediate cause, according to Joll, was to be found in the attitudes of 1914. Jarausch thus concludes that Bethmann did not enter the war as a "rabid pan-German expansionist, but as a traditional nationalist. his search for a cause in the July Crisis of 1914.
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