Causation

“The study of history is a study of causes.” E.H. Carr

E.H. Carr

Causation is one of the most frequently studied aspects of history as it seeks to give reasons to why significant events took place. It is rare, however, whether in discussions about historical or current events to give a definitive and clear answer to the question, ’why did this happen?’ It is perhaps the difficulty in seeking satisfactory answers and the possibility of addressing a variety of factors that makes causation such a popular topic for both the student and the professional historian. It is the cause rather than the course of great events that create the historical debates which fill the pages of historical journals, dominate the discussions of university seminars and create the examination questions for students at all levels.

The causes of wars and other human tragedies such as genocides are especially important for historians to address both to establish the rather negative issue of blame and the more positive understanding of lessons that can be learnt for the future. A good example of this is the historiography of the causes of the First World War. In the immediate aftermath of the war the examination of causation centred on the need to establish blame and the finger was very directly pointed at the defeated nations of Germany and Austria-Hungary. This led to the significant decisions made at the peace treaties such as Versailles (1919) which forced Germany to accept blame (war guilt clause) for the start of the war and pay reparations that covered the losses incurred during the four years of fighting. As time passes emotion is replaced with objectivity and the unearthing of evidence which introduces other factors that might be considered in establishing the causes of the First World War. The abundance of factors leads to differing interpretations and debate, such as the Fischer Controversy, which will rumble on for generations.

Causes of WW1

Historians will try and look for both profound and specific causes and isolate the significant factors from other background relevance. This links to the logical topic of necessary and sufficient causes. J. Rohl talked about how “the deeper causes (of the First World War) were necessary but not sufficient”; in other words, factors such as the continental alliances, militarism and secret diplomacy were all necessary for the outbreak of war but were not sufficient in themselves to cause a war which the same factors had long preserved peace in Europe. The student of this period should ask themselves why war broke out in 1914 rather than, say, in 1911. As A.J.P. Taylor illustrated the point; “every road accident is caused in the last resort by the invention of the internal combustion engine … but the police and courts do not weigh profound causes. They seek a specific cause for each accident … So it is with wars.”

A.J.P. Taylor