1914 is (still) the New Black
July 6, 2015·0 comments·europe
Every major power in 1914 felt attacked and defensive. Austria sought concessions from Serbia, not continental war. Germany felt surrounded. Russia felt obligated to respond. Yet within weeks, the language shifted from "we're defending ourselves" to "this is inevitable." When all sides believe they're reacting rather than initiating, escalation can feel like the only choice.
• The Austrian ultimatum to Serbia was 90 percent accepted. The missing 10 percent became proof the other side wouldn't negotiate. When escalation spirals, partial agreement signals intransigence rather than de-escalation.
• Leaders spoke in identical language across enemy lines: "we have no choice." Each felt surrounded, each felt obligated to respond, each felt victimized by the other's aggression. The paradox was structural, not ideological.
• Crowds outside newspaper offices filled with "unbelievable" enthusiasm as mobilization accelerated. Once populations internalize defensive necessity, the political space for alternatives vanishes. Escalation becomes not just rational but popular.
• The psychological shift from "might happen" to "inevitable" took days, not months. By July 31, diary entries from Germany speak of "splendid spirit" and feeling attacked. Cascading mobilizations compressed deliberation into urgency.
• The Bank of England's governor believed war was impossible because "the Germans haven't the credits." He thought economics would constrain politics. This assumes financial pressure stops escalation, a logic that still shapes current policy thinking about everything from sanctions to currency wars.
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