Marc Trachtenberg - International Politics in the Twentieth Century (Part 1)

Teil 1/2

This course explores some of the most significant conflicts in human history: the First World War, the Second World War (both in Europe and in the Pacific), and the Cold War. We will examine both the origins of these conflicts and how they progressed.

The historical analysis will serve as a means to address fundamental issues in international relations theory. Can war occur even if no one truly desires it? Is war always the result of aggression, or can nations inadvertently slip into armed conflict? What impact do nuclear weapons have on international politics? Are they a source of stability, or did the stable peace during the Cold War period have little to do with nuclear weapons?

Additionally, what does the history we explore reveal about the effects of different political systems? For instance, do democracies pursue a particular kind of policy, and if so, does that policy promote peace or instability? We will tackle these questions by examining specific historical contexts rather than addressing them directly.

00:00 - Origins of the First World War
01:34:25 - First World War
02:23:08 - Paris Peace Conference (I)
03:11:45 - Paris Peace Conference (II)
04:01:55 - 1919-23
04:50:58 - 1923-32
05:08:53 - 1933-36
05:59:28 - 1936-39
06:48:21 - Taylor
07:31:51 - 1939-41
08:22:33 - 1941
09:13:47 - 1945