Armageddon—And After

The author analyzes the recent catastrophic war, tracing proximate and deeper causes to militarism, secret diplomacy, rigid autocracies, and competitive armaments supported by financial and political interests. He surveys past policies and equilibria, critiques the balance-of-power mentality and diplomatic methods, and diagnoses the moral and institutional failures that prepared the ground for conflict. He then advances practical remedies—arms limitation, compulsory arbitration, more democratic and transparent control of foreign policy, protection for smaller peoples, and a change of international attitudes—calling on a new generation to resist reverting to discredited prewar arrangements.