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The Long Fuse: An Interpretation of the Origins of World War I | 
 enlarge | Author: Laurence Lafore
Publisher: Waveland Press
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy Used: $4.50
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Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 589588
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 284
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0881339547
Dewey Decimal Number: 940
EAN: 9780881339543
ASIN: 0881339547
Publication Date: May 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: Great reading copy. Average used condition. Name on front inner cover. I ship six days a week.
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Product Description
In analyzing the causes of World War I without concern for the question of guilt, the author places emphasis on two central facts: first, that when statesmen and peoples took actions they knew might lead to war, they were not envisaging the catastrophe that the war became but rather a quick and limited war; and, second, that among the many conflicts that might have led to war, the one that did was the threat to the integrity of Austria-Hungary posed by Serbia and Serb nationalism.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 A New Look at WWI June 24, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The causes and course of the First World War are taught to every high school student in the country. And in every textbook and supplement available to the teachers the three threats of nationalism, militarism, and colonialism are named as the trinity of death and destruction on the road to war. Historian and author Laurence Lafore takes issue with this commonly held belief in his book The Long Fuse : An Interpretation of the Origin of World War I. It is Lafore's contention that colonialism left only traces of its conflicts in Europe, and militarism might have hurried the war, but it was the idea of nationalism, and specifically nationalism in Serbia and its incompatibility with Austria, that is the root and reason of the war.
In The Long Fuse, Lafore looks at virtually every event, person, and idea that might be considered a cause of the war. The rise of German power, nationalism, militarism, the end of the Bismarkian system, and the rise of the alliances are all addressed. And while Lafore accurately places the items in their proper time and place the conclusions he draws from them are markedly different than the standard textbook.
Germany plays a central roll in Lafore's book. Indeed, it is the emergence of Germany as a new power in Europe that was a catalyst for the other great powers to begin to reevaluate their positions. According to Lafore, while Germany's power was undeniable the threat they posed to the other nations was not insurmountable. Lafore does examine Germany's fateful attachment of nationalism to its military power and their seemingly belligerent actions in the uncertain moments after the Archdukes Assassination but he explains them in a context that prevents them from being causes of the war. They become only fuel and not the match. The fuel furthermore might have been rendered inert if time and diplomacy were aloud to continue.
The author's argument against colonialism as a factor in the war is very convincing. Despite Fashoda, Morocco and other "near misses" the conflicts in the third world were kept as separate issues as far as the Great Powers were concerned. At the most they served as expressions of nationalism and pride for their mother countries and in the end seemed to barley leave a trace on Europe. Lafore is so definite in this statement that one feels obliged to take him at his word. But the evidence that he presents is proof enough that the textbooks and students of the Great War need to rethink the colonial connection.
After 268 pages of dense reading Lafore of explaining what was not a cause of the war he eventually explains what was. According to Lafore, the fact that Austria-Hungary was a supranational state in a system of national states made it fatally venerable to small nationalistic movements such as those in Serbia. Not only did they have to treat forcefully with these elements they could not easily retreat or negotiate. On the other hand the death of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of the Balkan states as well as the social awareness of the time made Serbian nationalism a potent and unstoppable force. This was the incompatibility that could not be negotiated, counseled, mitigated or ignored. All other "causes" could have, and most likely would have, been overcome, but not the Serbian Question.
What all the other causes did was provide a long fuse that brought the conflict from the Balkans to the rest of Europe. The alliances and prejudices created by decades of geo-political activity made the outbreak of a general war possible. To paraphrase Lafore; what was important to Europe was what the German military did, what the German Military did was what Austria needed, and what Austria needed was to deal harshly with Serbia. The chain of events that followed is well documented and is not Lafore's reason for listing them. Instead, at several places in these rapid and tragic events Lafore shows the readers different attempts to stop the insanity and the genuine efforts by some to prevent war. Such actions lend weight to his contentions that negotiation and detente was what could be expected in Europe on virtually ever other matter but the one that presented itself in August 1814.
Lafore's book is an exhaustive yet efficient treatment of the prewar years. Being both heavy with information and relatively short means that the book feels dense and requires the reader's utmost concentration. His concise and logical presentations make his arguments convincing but, Lafore's lack of adequate maps hampers the reader's ability to absorb the contents more readily. With judicious notes, supplemental maps, and a Zen state of reading concentration The Long Fuse is a terrific source of information on the Great War and a welcome contribution to the constant reevaluation of history.
 Lessons for a post 9-11 world August 9, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This fascinating and readable account of the causes of World War I goes far beyond discussion of rigid mobilization plans and ill-considered alliances among Great Powers (though the author covers these areas thoroughly enough). Mr. Lafore takes us to Eastern Europe and the Balkans, the dangerous issues that metastasized between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, and the fatality of Russian decisions. It also carries important lessons for today.
Germany's two-front war plan and the generally provocative mobilization requirements of the period are often discussed elsewhere. There has been maybe less study of what in the post 9-11 world looks like an elephant in the living room. Serbia's blatant support and encouragement of anti-Hapsburg terrorism and Russia's military support of Serbia's hostile policy are extremely interesting in comparison to the current world situation.
Lafore seems to show that the general nature of what became World War I was not inevitable. Russia did not have to guarantee Serbia's intolerable antagonism of Austria. Before German armies rolled into Belgium, setting the world on fire, Russia signaled its decision to militarily protect Serbia's terrorist campaign to bring down the Austria-Hungarian government.
 More than just Germany's fault February 26, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Laurence Lafore concentrates on the events which caused the First World War. Germany's fault is well founded but they did not cause the war by themselves. Lafore shows how other nations played a part in the events which caused the Great World War. Lafore does not blame any one nation, he simply points out the domino effect which brought about WWI and actually delayed the war until 1914.
In the spirit of A. J. P. Taylor, Lafore acknowledges the German actions but also points out they were not alone.
Buy This Book February 12, 2002
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
This is absolutely the clearest, most concise, and yet complete book you can find on the origins of WW1. Not a waste of money like many. Most important is the detailed annalysis of how the internal conditions of the European powers influenced foreign policy decision making. The book is a clear warning about the difficulties and dangers in the conduct of foreign affairs inherent to multinational states.
Thw Long Fuse September 2, 2001
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
At first glance, The Long Fuse, by Laurence Lafore, may seem dated. Originally written in 1971 with a second edition printed in 1997, it retains enough of the first edition to make the reader wonder if modern scholarship may have passed it by. True there is no indication of what has been updated in the newer edition, and the author in the early chapters does little to challenge long standing conclusions on World War One's origins. But Lafore ultimately shows why his original work warranted a second edition.This book does not examine economic, social, or military causes of the war in any great detail. In part this is what makes the book appealing. Lafore instead follows traditional diplomatic arguments upon which his conclusions are based. He does seem to favor conservative viewpoints by stating the fringe areas of Europe (the Balkans, Ireland, and frontier provincial areas such as Alsace-Lorraine) did much to thwart the ambitions of the great powers. He also reluctantly includes Austria-Hungary with the great powers though it was comprised of the very fringe areas he is critical of. Lafore does avoid one traditional Anglo-French opinion, that Germany bore sole responsibility for the war. This he flatly denies. Instead, he shows how each great power was in part responsible for its own actions, and how their actions subsequently crossed the frontiers and affected their neighbor's or allies'. The title is somewhat a misnomer as he seems to brush on the period of 1871-1913 though in insufficient detail to connect it to the outbreak of war in 1914. In fact the first half of the book is a bit meandering. However, the real merit of the study covers the period 1913/4 and this is where Lafore exhibits his understanding of the wars' origins. But this does not mean the reader should merely skim the early chapters. There are ample euphemisms, witticisms, arcane words, and indeed humor ("No one quite agreed on where Macedonia was-but wherever it was, it was a problem.") to keep ones interest. But it remains the last chapters, and especially the final pages that demonstrates the books' value, and for this reason it should be considered by anyone with an interest in the Great Wars' origins.
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