17.423: The Causes and Prevention of War
Spring 1998
TA: David Mendeloff

It is January 1919. The Armistice was signed late last year. The Great War is over -- but not resolved. That is now your task. You are the official representatives of France, Russia, Germany, Britain, Austria-Hungary, and Serbia at the Cambridge/MIT peace conference. The conference has convened to determine the causes of the war and make final recommendations based on these findings to prevent future wars. This is your mission:

You will speak before the other nations for five minutes and must address the following:

1. Assign blame for the war. Whose fault was it and why?

2. Explain and defend your own country's actions leading up to the war.

3. Make concrete suggestions about how to prevent future wars, or to prevent future crises from escalating. What lessons have you learned about the causes and exacerbation of the conflict?

Astute delegates will note the potential conflicts and connections between these three points. In your treatment of point 3, feel free to draw on the historical cases covered thus far.

In covering the three points, you should talk about:

1. The international situation (as you see fit: balance of power, alliances, windows, deterrence, offense/defense, etc.)

2. The domestic politics and institutions of your country, or of other countries (as you see fit: militarism, nationalism, misperceptions, war aims, constraints on the government, civil-military relations, etc.)

3. The July Crisis -- you must describe and interpret your country's role in and perspective on this event.

After the five minute speech, the floor will be open to comments by the other delegates. This will be a free-flowing exchange. Though the presentations will take place over two sessions, all delegates -- including those not currently scheduled to make their formal presentations -- must be prepared to respond to any specific charges or attacks leveled against them by the other delegates. The conference chair reserves the right to call on delegates to respond to comments made in the formal presentations. After a reasonable period of discussion, the next five minute presentation will take place.

Don't get beaten on the facts! Refer to tables, charts and readings.