Britain and 1914 - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

Professor Vernon Bogdanor unpicks the political and social ties that brought led to the first world war: ’Nations slithered over the brink into the boiling cauldron of war without any trace of apprehension or dismay’, (Lloyd George, 1934). Britain has been blamed for not making the position clear following the murder of the Austrian Archduke at Sarajevo, and also for aligning with France and Russia, thus promoting the division of Europe into two camps. The government was accused of failing to avert the conflict and then involving Britain in an unnecessary war. Criticisms will be analysed to consider whether they are justified in the light of modern historical research. The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College Website: