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http://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/britain-first-world-war/
Filmed at the Royal Geographical Society on April 15, 2014.
It is not for nothing that the First World War is called the Great War. It was the most decisive event in modern history, but also one of the bloodiest: by the end of the war, some nine million soldiers had been killed. It was also a historic point, marking the definitive end of the Victorian era and the advent of a new era of uncertainty. In 1918, the old order had fallen: the Bolsheviks had taken power in Russia; the German, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires had been destroyed; and even the victorious Allied powers had suffered devastating losses. It was supposed to be the war to end all wars. And yet, just two decades later, the world was once again plunged into conflict. It is therefore not surprising that historians still disagree on whether the British commitment was worth it.
For some, the war was a vitally important crusade against Prussian militarism. Had we stayed away, they argue, the result would have been an oppressive Europe dominated by Germany, leaving the British Empire isolated and doomed to decline. And in fighting to save Belgium, Britain stood for one principle: the right of a small nation to resist its authoritarian neighbors.
For others, the war was a catastrophic mistake, fought at catastrophic human cost. He brought communism to power in Russia, destroyed the map of Europe, and left behind a sense of resentment that would fuel the rise of Nazism. We often forget that, even days before Britain entered the war, it seemed likely that we would stay out. SS Asquith's decision to intervene changed the course of history. But was it the right one?
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