A Brief Introduction to the First World War provides a thorough yet highly accessible introduction to the complex and debated causes of the war. The book demonstrates how the conflict rapidly spread from Europe to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and shows how millions of people both within and outside Europe were directly and indirectly affected by this global struggle.

Drawing on recent research, the book illustrates how the First World War became a total war that demanded the total mobilization of society's human and material resources, in both belligerent and neutral nations. Brazier shows how this resulted in a more active and interventionist state, and how ideas regarding state planning and the redistribution of resources went on to lay the foundation for new concepts of social organization.

A Brief Introduction to the First World War provides the reader with an overview of a pivotal event in world history. The war's long-term influence on politics, society, and the economy cannot be overstated. It was a turning point in our modern history: understanding the causes and consequences of the First World War is therefore crucial to understanding the complexities of today's world.