Why We Are at War (2nd Edition, revised)

"Why We Are at War" written by the University of Oxford Faculty of Modern History, explains the reasons for World War I breaking out. It examines the important ideas that were threatened during the war, specifically looking at Belgium's neutral role in the conflict, the partnerships between countries in Europe, and the unsuccessful diplomatic talks that happened beforehand. The book starts with an explanation of the goals of the writers, who are described as historians and not politicians, who want to explain the war using historical facts and important papers. They point out how important it was that Belgium was supposed to be neutral, based on agreements, and how Germany went against this. The writers explain Belgium's legal rights as an independent nation and stress that powerful countries had a shared duty to protect Belgium’s neutrality, and they investigate the moral problems of the war. This part prepares readers for a study of the political decisions and diplomatic events that started the war, building a base for the discussions and investigations that follow.