TOPIC 5: International politics in 1918-1933

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 449.

TOPIC 4: Versailles-Washington system of international relations

This topic examines the reasons for the defeat of the Central Powers. Paris Peace Conference and the Big Three. The lecture provides an overview on the positions of each member of the Big Three: Woodrow Wilson, George Clemenceau and Lloyd George at the conference and the conflict of interests among them. Fourteen Points by Woodrow Wilson and it's importance and novelty of his ideas are discussed. We also discuss the resulting treaties, with a special emphasis on Versaille Treaty. We discuss the punishment of Germany, fall of monarchy in Germany and creation of the Weimar Republic. The lecture also addresses the creation of League of Nations, the USA's congress non-endorsement of the League of Nations, political loss of Woodrow Wilson, and Washington Conference.

This topic focuses on Locarno Treaties and its effects on improved western European diplomatic relations and climate. It also discusses Germany's accession to the League of Nations and introduction of hope for international peace, typically called “spirit of Locarno”. We also discuss the change in the politics of Germany after the death of Stresemann and rise of Hitler to power. The lecture provides overview of attempts of disarmament in 1927-1929. We also discuss the reasons and conditions of the creation of Balkan Entente, mutual-defense agreement between Greece, Turkey, Romania, and Yugoslavia, intended to guarantee the signatories' territorial integrity and political independence against attack by another Balkan state (i.e., Bulgaria or Albania).