Brief description
The international system was forever transformed by the First World War. This module will look at the origins of this war. It will examine the impact on European politics of the unification of Germany, the emergence of international socialism, the 'new imperialism' (and its attendant 'globalising' effects), as well as the rise of Imperial Russia and the United States. It will also consider the strategic, imperial and foreign policies of the Great Powers and place these policies within the wider context of the shifts in the global balance of power after 1870.

Aims
The aim of this module is to examine the relationship between the transformation of the international system after 1870 and the coming of the First World War in 1914.

Objectives
At the end of the module students will be able to:

• identify and discuss the key historical debates concerning the origins of the First World War.

• discuss the key features of the European states system and how they evolved during the period in question with particular reference to the "German problem" and the "Russian problem"

• discuss the politics of disarmament and armament and their role in relations between states before 1914

• analyse the impact of colonialism on the international system

• evaluate the role of international socialism in international relations during the period in question

10 ECTS Credits