Authors

Teodoras Zukas¹;  ¹ Vilnius University, Lithuania

Discussion

The outbreak of the First World War has traditionally been characterized as a moment universally embraced with fervor by European societies. This prevailing narrative drew its strength from the large-scale pro-war demonstrations, the pronouncements of prominent intellectuals and writers, and the apparent consensus among political leaders regarding the legitimacy and imperative nature of the war. However, recent historiographical developments over the last few decades have undertaken a revisionist approach, aiming to offer a more nuanced depiction of the prevailing sentiments at the onset of the war. This nuanced perspective underscores disparities among individual nations and variations within different societal strata. In this paper, I will elucidate the historiographical lineage of the concept of war enthusiasm, highlighting the significant contributions of recent scholarly works and pinpointing the primary areas of contention and divergence within this historical discourse. Ultimately, in the concluding section, I will posit that the summer of 1914 defies categorization under the singular rubric of war enthusiasm, as recent research and evolving historiography continue to grapple with the complexities of this multifaceted phenomenon.