Diplomacy's Dark Side: When Negotiations Fail

The When Diplomacy Fails podcast is a history podcast that examines how wars broke out, how they were concluded, and their consequences. Hosted by Dr Zack Twamley, the podcast covers a range of historical events and topics, including the Thirty Years' War, the Italian invasion of Libya, the Bosnian Annexation Crisis, and the July Crisis leading up to World War I. Listeners can support the podcast through Patreon, gaining access to ad-free episodes, scripts, and bonus content, as well as the opportunity to suggest episodes and join the community on Facebook. Patreon support has been instrumental in helping the creator invest more time and resources into the show and has become a significant source of income.

Explore related products

When Diplomacy Fails (Freehold Series - Ripple Creek Book 3)

$6.99 $7.99

Diplomacy (Touchstone Book)

$11.8 $30

The Russians and Prussians During the Seven Years' War

$5.38 $6.99

Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy

$16.95

The United States–South Korea Alliance: Why It May Fail and Why It Must Not (A Council on Foreign Relations Book)

$28.42 $35

For God or The Devil: A History of The Thirty Years War (When Diplomacy Fails)

$39.95 $42

The Italian invasion of Libya and the Balkan Wars

The Italian invasion of Libya began in 1911, when Italian troops invaded the Turkish province of Libya, which was then a part of the Ottoman Empire. This invasion started the Italo-Turkish War, which resulted in the establishment of Italian Tripolitania and Italian Cyrenaica. These two colonies were later unified into the colony of Italian Libya. The invasion was partly prompted by a secret treaty signed between Italy and France in 1902, which accorded freedom of intervention in Tripolitania and Morocco. Italian politicians and the press also lobbied for the invasion, depicting Libya as rich in minerals and defended by only a small number of Ottoman troops.

In the face of this invasion, the Ottoman government proposed handing over control of Libya without war, maintaining only formal suzerainty. However, this proposal was refused by the Italians, and war was declared on 29 September 1911. Despite facing some opposition at home, Italy's invasion force was bolstered to 100,000 troops, along with biplanes, far outnumbering the Ottoman defenders. The Italian fleet began bombing the port of Tripoli on 3 October 1911, and by 1913, Italian forces had invaded Cyrenaica as part of their wider invasion of Libya.

The Balkan Wars, consisting of two successive conflicts from 1912 to 1913, involved the members of the Balkan League (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro) fighting against the Ottoman Empire. The Balkan League, formed under Russian auspices, aimed to take Macedonia away from Turkey, which was already engaged in the Italo-Turkish War. The Balkan allies were victorious, and the Ottoman Empire lost nearly all of its remaining European territories, including Macedonia and Albania. The Second Balkan War erupted due to disputes among the Balkan allies over the partitioning of their conquests, leading to renewed hostilities in 1913.

The Bosnian Annexation Crisis

The roots of the crisis can be traced back to the Congress of Berlin in 1878, which granted Austria-Hungary the right to occupy and administer Bosnia and Herzegovina temporarily. However, the provinces remained official possessions of the Ottoman Empire. In the following years, Austria-Hungary invested significant effort and expense into developing the region economically and integrating it closely with its own territories. When the Young Turks revolutionised Constantinople in July 1908, establishing a constitutional government, the Austrian foreign minister, Count Lexa von Aehrenthal, moved to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina before the new regime could regain control.

On 16 September 1908, Aehrenthal met with the Russian foreign minister, Aleksandr P. Izvolsky, and secured Russia's non-objection to the annexation in exchange for Austria's non-objection to opening the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships. However, Aehrenthal failed to inform Izvolsky of the intended date of annexation, and Russia was unprepared for the immediate action. This resulted in strong popular opposition to the annexation in Russia, with massive protests by the Russian public. Serbia, which shared geographic and ethnic connections with Bosnia and Herzegovina, was outraged and demanded that Austria cede a portion of the annexed territory.

The crisis escalated as Austria, backed by its ally Germany, threatened to invade Serbia if it persisted in its demands. Russia, unable to secure strong support from its ally France, could not risk a war against both Austria-Hungary and Germany. In March 1909, Izvolsky notified Germany that Russia accepted the annexation. While the immediate crisis was resolved without warfare, it severely damaged relations between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, and Russia felt humiliated and resentful. These tensions contributed to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

The July Crisis

In the years leading up to World War I, international tensions, mutual suspicion, and a widespread arms race characterised Europe. Despite successful attempts by the Great Powers to avert large-scale wars, the assassination of the Archduke pushed Austria-Hungary to seek a military blow on Serbia, viewing Serbian support for Yugoslav nationalism as a threat to the unity of its multi-national empire.

Austria-Hungary, with German support, delivered an ultimatum to Serbia on 23 July, demanding harsh terms that would likely be rejected. Serbia surprisingly met most of the demands, but Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations anyway. Britain proposed a mediation conference, but this was ignored by Berlin and Vienna. Austria-Hungary then declared war on Serbia, with Germany proposing a 'Halt in Belgrade'.

Partial mobilisation of four Russian districts began, and the Tsar authorised Russian general mobilisation for the next day. Germany declared war on Russia, and France and Germany began general mobilisation. On 4 August, Britain declared war on Germany, marking the official start of World War I.

Explore related products

Modern Diplomacy in Practice

$30.42 $37.99

When Diplomacy Fails: An Anthology of Military Science Fiction

$30

Syria Betrayed: Atrocities, War, and the Failure of International Diplomacy

$35 $35

The Failure of Economic Diplomacy: Britain, Germany, France and the United States, 1931-36

$177.96 $219.99

A Matter of Honour: Britain and the First World War (When Diplomacy Fails)

$16

The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy (Oxford Handbooks)

$31.66 $40.59

The Thirty Years War

The Thirty Years' War, which took place between 1618 and 1648, was a complex and dynamic conflict that engulfed the continent of Europe. It was a period of intense rivalry, religious tension, and power struggles, with far-reaching consequences. The war was characterised by shifting alliances, where fortunes could change in an instant, and neutrality was impossible.

One key aspect of the war was the rivalry between Frederick V and Emperor Ferdinand. Frederick's rise, fall, and subsequent rise again, was emblematic of the war's unpredictable nature. His departure from the scene, however, led to a power vacuum, with various factions vying for influence and ultimately escalating the conflict. The religious divide between the Catholic, Castilian majority in Spain and the Moriscos, who were first or second-generation Muslims nominally converted to Catholicism, added another layer of complexity to the conflict.

The Thirty Years' War was a truly international conflict, drawing in major powers such as Sweden, with King Gustavus Adolphus playing a significant role. The sack of Magdeburg in May 1631, where the city's people chose to oppose the Imperialists, resulting in a devastating atrocity, illustrates the high stakes and intense passions of the war. The war's impact extended beyond Europe, with the Ottoman-Persian wars also playing a role in keeping certain powers preoccupied.

The war concluded with the Peace of Westphalia, which brought an end to the conflict and shaped the continent's political landscape. The specific details of this peace deal and the events leading up to it are explored in the podcast, providing a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics at play during this tumultuous era.

The Spanish Moriscos

The Moriscos were descendants of Spain's Muslim population who had been forced to convert to Christianity. They were first or second-generation Muslims who had converted to Catholicism rather than leave the country, but many continued to practice Islam in private and retained their Arab customs and traditions. The Spanish Inquisition, led by the Archbishop of Valencia, Juan de Ribera, considered the Moriscos as heretics and traitors. The Moriscos were also disliked by the Spanish for their wealth, hard work, and avoidance of military service.

The Expulsion of the Moriscos was decreed by King Philip III of Spain on April 9, 1609. Between 1609 and 1614, the Crown systematically expelled Moriscos through a series of decrees, with varying levels of success. Early estimates suggest that around 270,000-300,000 Moriscos were expelled, which constituted about 4% of the total Spanish population. However, modern studies have challenged these estimates, suggesting that up to 40% of Moriscos may have never left the country, and some even returned after being expelled.

The expulsion of the Moriscos was influenced by several factors, including the internal problems of the stretched Spanish Empire, the radicalization of the ruling class, and the fear of Morisco revolts. Spain was fighting wars in the Americas and facing raids by the Ottomans along its coast. Additionally, there were two Morisco revolts in the century since Islam was outlawed in Spain. The Spanish government lacked the resources and will to enforce the conversion and assimilation of the Moriscos.

The story of the Spanish Moriscos is a vital element of the religious and political landscape of early 17th-century Europe. It reflects the complex dynamics between different religious and ethnic groups within Spain and the broader European context of the time. The expulsion of the Moriscos had a significant impact on Spain's relationship with its Arab neighbours and contributed to the country's political and social turmoil during that period.

Frequently asked questions