Omar Bennett
'When Diplomacy Fails' is a weekly history podcast that covers the buildup to, breakout of, and consequences of various conflicts throughout history. The podcast, by Dr. Zack Twamley, delves into the intricacies of diplomacy, intrigue, and drama that precede and follow significant historical events, such as the Korean War and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The blog associated with the podcast provides additional context and insights, inviting listeners to join the conversation and explore the fascinating world of diplomacy and its complexities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Podcast and blog |
| Host | Zack Twamley |
| Topics | How wars broke out, how they were concluded, and their consequences |
| Episodes | Korean War, Thirty Years War, The July Crisis, The Age of Bismarck |
| Platforms | iTunes, Facebook, Patreon, Acast |
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What You'll Learn
The Korean War
At the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union jointly occupied the Korean peninsula, intending to steer Korea toward independence and a unified government. This arrangement was meant to be temporary, but the joint efforts of the two powers, known as the Joint Commission, faced numerous challenges and eventually deadlocked. Courteous but resentful letters were exchanged between the US Secretary of State, George Marshall, and the Soviet Foreign Minister, V.M. Molotov, each blaming the other and proposing contradictory pathways for the Joint Commission to complete its mission.
The division of Korea became more pronounced as the Soviet Union and its partners in northern Korea boycotted the UN-sponsored elections in May 1948. The Republic of Korea was founded in the south in August, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north in September. Border conflicts broke out almost immediately, and within two years, the two countries were at war.
The war was shaped by international factors, such as the involvement of the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as domestic Korean factors. The opening of Soviet archives has provided new insights into why and how Stalin supported the North's invasion of the South in 1950, challenging previous revisionist histories.
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The July Crisis
In the aftermath of the assassination, Austria-Hungary sought to inflict a military blow on Serbia, blaming the country for the attack and viewing Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism as a threat to its multi-national empire. On 1 July, Léon Descos, the French Ambassador to Belgrade, reported that a Serbian military party, led by Chief of Serbian Military Intelligence, Dragutin Dimitrijević, was involved in the assassination. Descos was replaced with the more hawkish Auguste Boppe at Serbia's request. Austria-Hungary, with the support of Germany, decided on war with Serbia but was slow to act, losing the sympathies of other European powers who believed that Austria-Hungary was using the assassination as a pretext for aggression.
On 23 July, Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia, giving them 48 hours to reply. Serbia surprisingly met almost all the demands, but Austria-Hungary nevertheless broke off diplomatic relations. Britain proposed a mediation conference, but this was ignored by Berlin and Vienna. On 28 July, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, with Wilhelm II proposing a 'Halt in Belgrade'. This marked the beginning of a chain reaction of events that led to the outbreak of World War I, as Russia, France, and Germany began general mobilisation, and Germany declared war on Russia.
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The Age of Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck, born in 1815, is often regarded as a brilliant diplomat and statesman. Bismarck's diplomacy, along with Roon's reorganisation of the army and Moltke's military strategy, restructured the European balance of power, with the creation of the German Empire as the dominant force in continental Europe, excluding Austria from a unified Germany. Bismarck's foreign policy was based on the principles of keeping France isolated and Russia and Austria on good terms. He was committed to maintaining peace in Europe, and his handling of the Congress of Berlin and the Bulgarian crisis helped prevent war. Bismarck's diplomacy also prevented the formation of any hostile coalitions against Germany and obtained recognition of her great power status.
Bismarck's unification of Germany led him to pursue the Kulturkampf, a political conflict aimed at rooting out Catholic influence in Germany, which he saw as a potential fourth column for the Pope. This failed, with the Catholics responding by forming the powerful German Centre Party. Bismarck also allied himself with the anti-Catholic Liberals and fought the Catholic Church, with the additional aim of disenfranchising and diminishing the Polish majority within Prussian-occupied Poland. He became a hero to German nationalists, who praised him as a visionary who kept the peace in Europe. However, he has been criticised for his persecution of Poles and Catholics, as well as the immense power centralised within his office as Chancellor.
Bismarck's health began to fail in 1896, and he died in 1898 at the age of 83. He was succeeded as Prince Bismarck by his eldest son, Herbert. Bismarck's legacy is complex, and while he is admired for his diplomatic skills and his role in unifying Germany, he has also been criticised for his role in the persecution of Catholics and Poles and the centralisation of power during his chancellorship.
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Britain Goes to War
"Britain Goes to War" is an episode of the "When Diplomacy Fails" podcast, which covers the buildup to, outbreak of, and consequences of various historical conflicts. The podcast episode focuses on the events leading up to Britain's entry into a war, likely referencing World War I, given the mention of the July Crisis and the year 1914 in related blog posts.
In the context of World War I, the entry of Britain into the war was a significant development. Before the war, Britain had been engaged in a naval arms race with Germany, which heightened tensions between the two countries. However, by 1914, the German Chancellor Theobald Von Bethmann Holweg had actively pursued a policy of rapprochement with Britain, believing that the naval race had subsided. Despite this, Britain became entangled in the war due to a complex web of alliances and treaties.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife in 1914 by Gavrilo Princip sparked the July Crisis, which led to the outbreak of World War I. During this tumultuous period, Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Secretary, struggled to grasp the severity of the situation on the continent. He favored the Entente and was influenced by the doctored Franco-Russian narrative of events. Grey faced a challenging battle to convince the British government of the necessity to intervene before Germany's invasion of Belgium, which ultimately simplified the process of Britain joining the war effort.
The podcast episode likely delves into the intricate diplomacy that occurred behind the scenes as Europe hurtled towards war. It may explore the failures of diplomacy that contributed to Britain's decision to enter the war, including the complex network of alliances, the influence of individual leaders, and the interplay between military and political interests. Additionally, the episode may shed light on the impact of Britain's involvement, the strategies employed, and the consequences that unfolded as a result of their participation in the war.
"Britain Goes to War" provides valuable insights into the complex diplomatic landscape preceding World War I, offering listeners a deeper understanding of the events that shaped the course of history.
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The 1916 Easter Rising
The Easter Rising, also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. It was staged to gain international recognition for Ireland and negotiate independence from Britain while the United Kingdom was engaged in the First World War. The Rising was not a popular rebellion, but rather a radical effort led by the military council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), with cooperation from the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, and Cumann na mBan.
The Easter Rising was the most significant uprising in Ireland since the rebellion of 1798 and the first armed conflict of the Irish revolutionary period. It began on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, and lasted for six days. The organisers of the Rising met and decided to postpone it until Easter Monday due to confusion caused by conflicting orders. This resulted in a limited force being available for the Rising as many members of the Volunteers and Cumann na mBan returned home on Sunday night, unaware of the change in schedule.
The Military Council of the IRB printed the 1916 Proclamation of Irish Independence, which served as the manifesto of the Easter Rising. It called for the establishment of an independent Irish Republic with rights for Irish men and women as citizens. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule, and its leaders were executed starting in May 1916. These executions and subsequent political developments contributed to an increase in popular support for Irish independence.
The Easter Rising has been commemorated and examined through various forms of media, including songs, plays, novels, documentaries, and films. In 2016, on the centenary of the Rising, the Fletcher Initiative on Religion, Law, and Diplomacy hosted an event to re-examine the popular narratives of the event, particularly those heard in an American context.
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Frequently asked questions
"When Diplomacy Fails" is a history blog that covers the buildup to, break out of, and consequences of various conflicts throughout history.
The author of the blog is Zack Twamley, a history enthusiast who also hosts a podcast of the same name.
The blog covers a wide range of historical topics, including World War I, the Korean War, and the unification of Italy. It also includes book reviews and personal reflections on the author's academic journey.
It is unclear how often the blog is updated, but it appears to be an active site with new posts published periodically.
Yes, there is a "When Diplomacy Fails" podcast available on Apple Podcasts and other platforms. The podcast covers similar topics to the blog and is hosted by Dr. Zack Twamley.
