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EUROPE ON THE BRINK 1914

Europe on the Brink, 1914: The July Crisis

by John E. Moser

It is the summer of 1914, and Europe stands on the brink of war.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914 by a Serbian nationalist has set off a crisis in Europe. Since the Congress of Vienna in 1815, peace had largely prevailed among the Great Powers, preserved through international conferences and a delicate balance of power. Now, however, interlocking alliances are threatening to plunge Europe into war, as Austria-Hungry is threatening war against Serbia. Germany is allied with Austria-Hungary, while Russia views itself as the protector of Serbia. Britain is torn between fear of a German victory and a Russian one. France supports Russia but also needs Britain on its side. Can war be avoided one more time? Europe on the Brink plunges students into the July Crisis as representatives of the European powers. What choices will they make?

ABOUT THE GAME

Details

Disciplines
Conflict & War Studies, International Relations Western Civ/History


Era 
20th Century, Contemporary History, Modern History


Geography 
Europe


Level
Published Level 5 game (what's that mean?

Themes and Issues  
Colonialism, Why Do Countries Go to War? National Interest, Diplomacy, Alliances vs Military Force


Player Interactions 
Factional, Competitive, Collaborative, Aggressive, Coalition-Building


Sample Class Titles
Western Civilization Since 1500, Europe in the Age of Revolution and Reacting, World War I

In a Few Words

The international system of 1914, and the competing demands of nationalism and balance of power.




Mechanics 
Divided Spaces, Rolling Dice


Chaos and Demand on Instructor 
Moderate chaos,
Moderate demand on instructor


Primary Source Highlights
 
The Law of Nations by Emer de Vattel
"The Balance of Power" by Richard Cobden
An Essay on the Duties of Man; Nikolai Danilevskii, Russia and Europe by Giuseppe Mazzini

3 Words to Describe this Game

Tense, Fast-Moving, Exciting



Notable Roles


Kaiser Wilhelm II


General Joseph Joffre


Foreign Minister Sergei Sazonov

Using the Game

Class Size and Scalability 
This game is recommended for classes with 12-30 students.

Class Time  
For this game 8 sessions (3 setup, 4 game sessions, 1 debrief) are recommended. 

Assignments
Europe on the Brink features assignments that include journalism, letter writing, speeches, and diplomatic communications. You can adjust the assignments based on the desired learning outcomes of your class. 



Possible Reacting Game Pairings
This game can be used on its own, or with other games. These pairings are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive or prescriptive. The Europe on the Brink may pair well with:


GAME MATERIALS

Confirmed instructors who are not yet members can access basic instructor materials. Reacting Consortium members can access all downloadable materials (including expanded and updated materials) below. You will be asked to sign in before downloading.

Gamebook

Students need a Gamebook, which includes directions, resources, and historical content. The Europe on the Brink Gamebook is published by Reacting Consortium Press. 

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4696-5986-2

EBook ISBN: 978-1-4696-5987-9


Available wherever books are sold.

Role Sheets and Handouts

Students also need a Role Sheet, which contains biographical information, role-specific resources or assignments, and their character's secret victory objectives. 

.docx file.

Instructor's Manual

The Instructor's Manual includes guidance for assigning roles, presenting historical context, assignments, activities and discussion topics, and more.   

.docx file.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

John E. Moser

John E. Moser is professor of history and chair of the masters program in American History and Government at Ashland University. He did his undergraduate work at Ohio University, and has an M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At Ashland he teaches courses on modern European, American and East Asian history, and in 2016 received the university’s Edward and Louaine Taylor Award for Excellence in Teaching. John has published numerous works on subjects ranging from comic books to Japanese foreign policy. He is author of four books, the most recent of which is The Global Great Depression and the Coming of World War II, which was published by Routledge in 2015. He has also published three games for the Reacting to the Past series, including Japan, 1941: Between Pan-Asianism and the West; Europe on the Brink, 1914: The July Crisis; and (with Nicolas W. Proctor) Restoring the World, 1945: Security and Empire at Yalta. He lives in Ashland with his wife Monica, their daughter Stanzi, and their three dogs.

Reviews 

"The role descriptions are quite excellent: full and interesting biographies, logical organization of material, clarity respecting assignments and objectives, and all of it well- written. Also, the interlocking of characters adds an element of complexity: e.g., Grey of England makes promises on the sly to France and Russia, while Lloyd George tries uncovering evidence of hidden deals, possibly from French and Russian ministers; Viviani tries getting the goods on Poincaré. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be introduced to this wonderful cast of characters."

"This is a well-written and elegantly-constructed game. It offers an engaging and historically-accurate simulation of the diplomatic and military maneuverings of the July Crisis, helping students to understand how Europe entered into a catastrophic war. After playing it at the beginning of the semester, my students continued to refer back to their experiences, and they were intrigued (and amused) to see how each of their characters fared in the Great War."


"I would never have thought to organize a war game this way (indeed, I would not have thought a war game possible). I likely would have created a fictional conference peopled by foreign ministers. John has discovered another way, which, based on my reading alone, seems like it would work and perhaps be more interesting to play. So kudos to John!"

QUESTIONS

Members can contact game authors directly

We invite instructors join our Facebook Faculty Lounge, where you'll find a wonderful community eager to help and answer questions. We also encourage you to submit your question for the forthcoming FAQ, and to check out our upcoming events


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Restoring the World, 1945: Security and Empire at Yalta

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Progressivism at High Tide: The Election of 1912

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