Description
Empires at War, 1911-1923
Book Summary
This historical essay proposes a renewed vision of the First World War, expanding its chronological and geographical framework beyond the European trenches. The authors analyze the period between the Italian invasion of Libya in 1911 and the mass violence that followed the collapse of the Ottoman, Russian, and Austrian empires up to 1923. The work invites us to understand the Great War as a global conflict of empires, where millions of subjects were mobilized to defend imperial interests in non-European theaters, the outcome of which not only meant the fall of dynasties but the end of a world order.
What is it about?
Empires at War, 1911-1923 challenges the traditional narrative that places the First World War between 1914 and 1918. Manuela Erez and Robert Gerwarth propose an analysis that integrates the violent conflicts that preceded and followed the Great War, offering a broader and more complex perspective. The book examines how the war was not a confrontation between nation-states, but a struggle between multinational empires (Ottoman, Russian, Austro-Hungarian) that mobilized their populations on fronts ranging from North Africa to the Caucasus. The reader will witness the drama of millions of people called upon to defend imperial interests, and will understand how mass violence continued until 1923, with the collapse of these empires and the reconfiguration of the world map.
Main themes
- Revision of the chronological framework of the First World War (1911-1923).
- Analysis of the war as a conflict between empires, not between nation-states.
- Study of mass violence and the collapse of the Ottoman, Russian, and Austrian empires.
- Mobilization of imperial subjects in non-European war theaters.
- Geopolitical consequences and the end of the global imperial order.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in contemporary history, the First World War, and imperial studies. It is especially suitable for those seeking a perspective that goes beyond the traditional Eurocentric approach and who wish to understand the global dynamics and long-term consequences of the conflict. It will also be of great interest to students of history, political science, and international relations, as well as anyone who wants to delve deeper into the causes and effects of 20th-century political violence.
What this book contributes
- An expanded and contextualized vision of the First World War, integrating preceding and subsequent conflicts.
- A deep analysis of the war as a conflict between empires, offering keys to understanding its global nature.
- Understanding of the human drama of millions of people mobilized in defense of imperial interests.
- Clarity on the consequences of imperial collapse and the reconfiguration of the world order.
Technical specifications
- Author: Manuela Erez; Robert Gerwarth
- Publisher: Biblioteca Nueva
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Literary essays, General and world history, First World War
- Collection: Preterita
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2015
- Number of pages: 448
- Weight: 633 g
Editorial review
Empires at War, 1911-1923 is a rigorous and necessary work for those who wish to go beyond the traditional vision of the First World War. Its main value lies in its authors' ability to expand the temporal and geographical horizon of the conflict, offering a perspective that integrates the violence before and after the 1914-1918 period. The book is especially useful for understanding imperial dynamics and the global consequences of their collapse, an approach that enriches historiographical debate and provides keys to understanding the 20th century.