This book examines why, in 1914, a Balkan conflict escalated into a general European war. It focuses on the decision-making of each Power during the July-August crisis, and analyses the role of domestic politics, economics, cultural factors, militarism, imperialism, and the international political system. Attention is given to source material and to historiography, notably the controversy surrounding the work of Fritz Fischer. There is an extensive annotated bibliography

Chronology Maps
Introduction
Austria-Hungary and Serbia Germany and the Blank Cheque
Russo-French Response Towards World War
The Search for Understanding Conclusion: The Vision of War
Bibliography
Index.