If you are interested in the centenary of the Great War but don't know where to get started, consider this brief article by Eric Margolis. Recall the old quote by the Latin poet, Horace, that "fleeing vice is the beginning of virtue." In studying the origins of the Great War, the first mistake you must avoid is the British bias, which is also the bias of Anglophiles in the power establishment of the American Northeast.
Many people see diplomats as empty talk, talk, talkers, as well as duplicitous scoundrels. But the diplomats at the end of the Napoleonic wars crafted a peace that lasted a hundred years in Europe -- not complete peace of course, but there were no general European-wide wars for a hundred years after their peace treaty.
But halfway through that remarkable century of progress, something new happened: Germany became a united country, and started industrializing and arming itself at a rate that soon threatened to make it the Big Cheese of Europe. The former Big Cheeses couldn't stand to see themselves become second-rate powers. It is not an easy transition. The Balance of Power in Europe simply failed to accommodate a rising Germany.
The USA faces the same problem today. It must gracefully bow out of running the planet and let China take over meddling, bombing, invading, and occupying half of the countries on the planet. A lot of good it will do them.
Many people see diplomats as empty talk, talk, talkers, as well as duplicitous scoundrels. But the diplomats at the end of the Napoleonic wars crafted a peace that lasted a hundred years in Europe -- not complete peace of course, but there were no general European-wide wars for a hundred years after their peace treaty.
But halfway through that remarkable century of progress, something new happened: Germany became a united country, and started industrializing and arming itself at a rate that soon threatened to make it the Big Cheese of Europe. The former Big Cheeses couldn't stand to see themselves become second-rate powers. It is not an easy transition. The Balance of Power in Europe simply failed to accommodate a rising Germany.
The USA faces the same problem today. It must gracefully bow out of running the planet and let China take over meddling, bombing, invading, and occupying half of the countries on the planet. A lot of good it will do them.
Comments
I'm watching a production from the Teaching Company which I got from my library called "The Long 19th Century: European History from 1789-1917." The instructor is Professor Weiner from Lafayette College. Anyway during the above period of time, a huge factor in Europe was the Industrial Revolution which gave Britain a huge advantage over everyone else in Europe. It eventually spread to France, Germany, etc. but Russia remained far behind for a long period of time. Russia also is a hard land to survive in as most people were dirt poor peasant farmers throughout their long history. Russia has been a late comer in competing with the Europe who had so many advantages over them for so long.
It's anybody's guess how all factors weigh in to create history. Even the historians, those who have made this their lifelong study, disagree. It's so easy to pull out this fact or that fact, etc. and sway the argument. I dislike going there for that reason since I will never be that much of an expert on anything.
What I like about your interest in this is your willingness to be open and to re-evaluate what we have traditionally been taught. For to do this frequently results in an understanding of the other side and a lessoning of the hatred and separation we hold for those we traditionally view as our enemies.
You are right that the balance of power is always shifting and I don't think it is possible to stop leaders from vying and strategizing for the top position. Perhaps it is only when one is smart enough to realize the odds are against them at that time that leaders are willing to settle for sharing power, moving over a bit, as you are recommending the US do at this time.
Basic human nature is always the problem, always has been and always will be.
An interesting study in humility is the famous study by Stanley Milgram "Obedience to Authority." It is well worth looking at if anyone is unfamiliar.
We really dislike any sign of humility in our leaders. We see it as weakness. You use the term "gracefully bow out".......I am calling including those sentiments in the use of the word "humility". I do not mean it as "less than" something or someone else but rather as being willing to "step aside" in recognition of what is really every person wanting a decent life, no matter of nationality.