The Franco-Prussian War: Turning-Points in European Experiences and Perceptions of Military Conflict

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71 was a war of ideas, values, and perceptions that transformed the political, diplomatic, and military culture across Europe, leading to the First World War. It was a modern war with new weaponry and industrialized warfare, and humanitarian movements and international law subjected the fighting to unprecedented scrutiny. This edited volume will appeal to scholars in war studies, international relations, diplomacy, and intellectual and cultural history, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate courses on nineteenth-century European history and cultural studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 has long been viewed as a limited conflict between French and German forces. However, this edited volume challenges this perspective and reveals that it was a war of ideas, values, and perceptions that profoundly transformed the political, diplomatic, and military culture across Europe. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, the book argues that the war raised new questions about power, the nation, violence, and notions of civilization, leading to a decisive shift in how warfare was experienced and perceived. While the Franco-Prussian War may have begun as a traditional dynastic struggle, it quickly evolved into a modern war and a significant precursor to the First World War in its use of new weaponry and industrialized warfare. At the same time, the development of humanitarian movements and international law on the conduct of war meant that the fighting was subjected to unprecedented scrutiny, while new technologies accelerated the pace at which narratives about the war were constructed and consumed. This volume will appeal to scholars in the fields of war studies, international relations and diplomacy, and intellectual and cultural history. It will also be a valuable addition to undergraduate and postgraduate courses on nineteenth-century European history and cultural studies.

Weight: 464g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032373928