When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

In this episode of Britain Goes To War (BGTW) we examine the aftermath of Disraeli's political loss to Gladstone in the late 1868 election which catapulted Gladstone to power at the head of a Liberal majority. While Gladstone set about solving things abroad and reacting to major changes in Europe, Dizzy was biding his time to strike back at his eternal foe, only to suffer a devastating loss closer...

You guys are the best, so you deserve to know what's new and what's about to happen in the life of WDF as well as Zack's life too! Within this long-winded, but also very frank and surprisingly personal episode, you'll discover Zack's plans for the future in academia, exciting news about his Masters and the direction this podcast should go in. Whether you stick it out to the end or only listen to b...

In this episode of BGTW (Britain Goes To War) we examine the reform bill of 1867. Though that may sound dull as dishwater, it was in fact a critical event in the history of Britain, not least because it pitted Gladstone and Disraeli against one another yet again, and bore witness to behind the scenes intrigue, political defections, shocking comebacks and finishers that came from out of nowhere! I...

In this episode of BGTW (Britain Goes to War) we examine the period of 1858-1865. Within are political struggles at home, as governments fall are remade once more, and the Liberal Party is finally formed as an official unit. Abroad things become yet more complex; while some in Britain worried about Napoleon III would do, America decended into war and Bismarck began his first in a trifecta of wars...

In this episode of BGTW (Britain Goes To War) we look at the founding principles of British politics in the 1840's. Specifically, we look at Sir Robert Peel and how his stance on Corn Laws and free trade dramatically affected the future of the Conservative Party. We also look at two very important, but very different, individuals who became political towers in their own field: Benjamin Disraeli an...

In this episode of Britain Goes To War (BGTW) we take a brief look at the history of two very different resources; coal and opium, both of which had very distinct impacts on Britain in the early 19th century, with consequences that reverberated throughout the remainder of that era. ThanksssssRemember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support...

Britain did not overnight become an Empire. It wasn't built in a day, and the lessons it applied to its towering apparatus were not learned in one either. Listen here to discover the origins of the Empire that covered so much of the world by 1897. The importance of Ireland, the uniting of crowns, the establishment of dominions and the loss of America - all were critical lessons learned by London i...

How the British Empire's achievements filtered down to the more niche aspects of the British World is the main theme of this episode. The trade networks, the control of naval systems, the cross pollination of peoples, crops and livestock, and the need to flee for a better life abroad. All were concerns that Queen Victoria's subjects experienced, and we examine them here. Remember history friends,...

Our first chapter within our first part within our first episode of #2 of BGTW (Britain Goes To War) takes us to the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and introduces the British Empire in all of its glory. Britons had established something incredible in the space of two generations, and they had showed no signs of slowing down by the century's end. Having created this Empire for themselves, and wi...

Still here? In that case have a looksee at what the plan is for the project: what is the schedule, what's the craic with that music, where I got the inspiration from to actually do it etc. After listening to this you should have all of your questions answered and hopefully you'll also feel psyched for it all to begin. This is the last intro episode, so after this we begin the meat of the project....

You've heard the cute prologue, but why should you stick around for the rest? Here I justify why doing BGTW is worthwhile, and why listening to the whole thing will be well worth your time. The most important questions and my aims are revealed, so you can judge for yourself whether or not you think you'll follow us in the future. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that...

You are a citizen of the British Empire, the date is 22nd June 1897, and you couldn't be more excited to take part in the diamond jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria. However, strange events are afoot. A gallery of unusual paintings and a curator of uncertain ambitions await you...  Dare you step into this, this first page of WDF's newest special? Listen away my friends. Welcome to a project th...

Herein we conclude our analysis of the era by summarising our major findings and determining the level of importance that code of honour could justifiably be said to have had in 1914. I hope you enjoyed the miniseries! Please remember to BEFIT and stay tuned for more WDF goodness in the very near future! ThankssssssRemember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where h...

Our case study shines a light on Belgium and the surprising issues that faced those that argued for both war and peace. Interestingly, honour featured heavily in the arguments of both, and thus our analysis takes us yet deeper into the psyche of the statesman at the time. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.p...

In this episode our focus takes us to the other side of the fence: those that favoured neutrality and wanted to avoid war at all costs for their varied reasons. We examine here how important the code of honour was to their stance and how it manifested itself in their arguments and media. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us b...

Our study deepens as we examine the first major grouping: those that favoured war - the interventionists. We examine in this episode how honour imacted their arguments and reasoning, and whether it was actually as important a factor as some of the other, more well-known issues. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to...

Herein we define what the code of honour meant to British statesmen in summer 1914, where it came from as a concept and how it became as important and ingrained on the sense of self and national identity. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFailsFollow me on Twitter @wdfpodcastAnd vis...

Here we are with the first of my dissertation episodes, which forms one out of a six part miniseries. I hope you enjoy it! Here we intro the entire concept, and I provide you with some background on the ideas I am about to present before we launch into the actual 'Introduction' of the dissertation proper. Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thr...

Sean joins me on the pod for a very special episode that looks at everything of note I've done recently. Wanna know what happened in London? Gallipoli? Or how the dissertation is going? Wanna know what the story is with that guy in the corner with the big orange head? Then by all means, history friend, listen in to our episode here. 3 Years in the making and 1 million downloads strong. I couldn't...

In this final episode of the Swedish Deluges (and of the first phase of Season 3!) we look at the campaign that faced Denmark and nearly erased it from the continent, but Europe was not about to let Charles Gustav have his cake and eat it... Have a listen and see what happens when you push public opinion too far and commit one deluge too many. Thanksss! Remember history friends, you can help this...

Sweden prepares for its strike against the suicidal Danes, but before abandoning Poland it leaves just enough mess behind in Central Europe to keep its enemies busy for most of 1657... Thankssss! Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Support us by going to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFailsFollow me on Twitter @wdfpodcastAnd visit our of...

The dramatic and incredible invasion of Poland by the Swedes that bore witness to its almost complete disintegration is examined here in full, covering the period of summer 1655 to early 1657. It is the longest episode released thus far, but when you listen to it you'll see why. The campaigns of the Swedes and their devastating impact were one issue, but how the rest of Europe reacted, from the Ho...

This episode explains how Poland-Lithuania got to such a dreadful position by 1655. Its selfish nobles, ridiculous laws and troublesome Cossacks tore the heart out of the state, so that by the time Russia and Sweden looked upon it in 1655 it resembled only a shell of its former self. Check it out! Remember history friends, you can help this podcast and ensure that this is where history thrives! Su...

Welcome to the next war! This time we look at the background behind the two empires that would perpatuate the beginning of what history terms the Second Northern War, or the Swedish Deluge (even though Sweden 'deluges' on another power within our wider narrative too!). Find out how Sweden did after 1648, how Cristina was getting on and what her kingdom's issues were. Find out also why Sweden's ete...

The concluding episode on the A-D War looks at the desperation on the Dutch side, as well as the fears harboured by Cromwell thanks to the Stuart and Orange families lurking in the background. His fears would compel him to strive for peace once his takeover was secure over the Commonwealth, but it would not be an easy road to the end of conflict for either side. Check it out, as we cover the final...