As AJP Taylor famously argues, European states had produced railways mobilization schedules that were so rigid that leaders were unable to engage in diplomacy once tensions had escalated.

Question

Answer

Pro: Once Germany discovered Russia was partially mobilizing, they abandoned attempts to negotiate with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as halting mobilization would have crashed their economy.

Answer

Con: Taylor's thesis is problematic as it places too much weight on the July Crisis and the events directly preceding the outbreak of war. As such, it says little about the structural causes of war.

What caused World War One?

As AJP Taylor famously argues, European states had produced railways mobilization schedules that were so rigid that leaders were unable to engage in diplomacy once tensions had escalated.

Pros

Cons

Once Germany discovered Russia was partially mobilizing, they abandoned attempts to negotiate with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as halting mobilization would have crashed their economy.

Taylor's thesis is problematic as it places too much weight on the July Crisis and the events directly preceding the outbreak of war. As such, it says little about the structural causes of war.

Selected claim, supporting its parent

As AJP Taylor famously argues, European states had produced railways mobilization schedules that were so rigid that leaders were unable to engage in diplomacy once tensions had escalated.

Pro claim 1

Once Germany discovered Russia was partially mobilizing, they abandoned attempts to negotiate with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as halting mobilization would have crashed their economy.

Con claim 1, children below

Taylor's thesis is problematic as it places too much weight on the July Crisis and the events directly preceding the outbreak of war. As such, it says little about the structural causes of war.