Christopher Clark mines fresh resources informed by events of the last few decades to throw new light on the background and causes of WWI. The principal focus of the book is on the Balkan nations, Serbian nationalism, and how the relationship between Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian empire led to the development of alliances the paved the way to war. In addition to the thorough analysis of history, events, and politics in the Balkans, the author examines the ministers and decision makers of the British, French, German, Austrian, and Russian governments. Clark attempts to put Balkan nationalism at the center of his analysis, looking to illuminate how the war began:

"It is a central argument of this book that the events of July 1914 make sense only when we illuminate the journeys travelled by the key decision-makers. To do this, we need to do more than simply revisit the sequence of international ‘crises’ that preceded the outbreak of war – we need to understand how those events were experienced and woven into narratives that structured perceptions and motivated behaviour. Why did the men whose decisions took Europe to war behave and see things as they did? How did the sense of fearfulness and foreboding that one finds in so many of the sources connect with the arrogance and swaggering we encounter – often in the very same individuals? Why did such exotic features of the pre-war scene as the Albanian Question and the ‘Bulgarian loan’ matter so much, and how were they joined up in the heads of those who had political power? When decision-makers discoursed on the international situation or on external threats, were they seeing something real, or projecting their own fears and desires on to their opponents, or both?"


Clark begins with the remarkable observation that we are now in a better position than ever before to understand the trigger of WWI, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The murder was a terrorist act, performed by a rogue political organization without clear political or geographical location, unaccountable to any government. The "modernity" of the war is another key thesis.

Excellent history, extremely detailed, and certainly not recommended as a first book on the subject. But highly recommended for anyone with a basic knowledge of WWI, who is looking for new insights on the antecedents. The reader will also come away with a new understanding of the continuing dangers of Balkan nationalism.