World War I and Lessons for Contemporary Policy on War and Peace
Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, ON
26-28 Sept. 2014
What experience and history teach is this — that nations and governments have never learned
anything from history, or acted upon any lessons they might have drawn from it.
-G.W.F. Hegel, Lectures on the Philosophy of History
The Group of 78 and Project Ploughshares are holding a conference to reflect, on the
centenary of the outbreak of World War I, on whether and how policy-makers, diplomats,
civil society and the armed forces today can help reduce the incidence of armed conflict
and reinforce the foundations of a more stable, peaceful world.
Writing a year ago in The Telegraph, the eminent UK historian of World War I Hew
Strachan remarked that “The centenary of the First World War must not be
Remembrance Sunday writ large…If it simply reworks the familiar themes of
remembrance, it will be repetitive, sterile and possibly even boring…We also need to
recognise the degree to which this war shaped our thinking about all war: our notions of
when it is right to fight and when not, of warfare as simultaneously necessary and
wasteful”1.
World War I has a special significance in Canadian history. Together, Canada and
Newfoundland (not yet part of Confederation during World War I) lost over 68,000
soldiers in the war—more than in all other wars together, before or after World War I.
Over 152,000 were wounded. Total casualties amounted to over 2.7 percent of the
Canadian population at the time. World War I was a watershed in our country’s history. It
was a stepping stone to Canada’s complete independence from Britain. Because of the
valour of Canadian troops at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele some see the war as a
defining event in Canada’s self-identity. But the conscription crisis was also a watershed
in the fraught relationship between French and English Canada, a legacy which remains
with us today.
Of course, the legacy of the “Great War” goes far beyond Canada, beyond the number
of dead and wounded, and its traumatic impact on society at that time. The world of the
21st century is still struggling with the consequences of decisions made at the Paris
Peace Conference in 1919, including redrawn boundaries in Europe, the Middle East
and elsewhere. World War I and its aftermath changed the way war is prosecuted and
the manner in which peace initiatives are undertaken. For all these reasons, as Strachan
puts it so well, it is imperative to go beyond acts of remembrance, as important as those
are.
Indeed, there can be no greater tribute to those who suffered and died than reflecting on
the experiences of those involved in the war, from key decision-makers to the infantry in
the trenches, to try to learn from those experiences, and particularly to avoid their
mistakes. Our aim should be to make better decisions today on matters of war and
peace. To prevent armed conflict, or to reduce its incidence. To strengthen the tools of
diplomacy and peace-building. To inhibit the innovation of increasingly destructive
weaponry, and reduce stockpiles of such weaponry wherever they exist. In short, to help
build a more secure, stable, just and peaceful world.
1
The Telegraph, 11 January 2013
1
Unquestionably, the world of 2014 is profoundly different from that of 1914, because the
nature of war and peace in the 21st century has radically changed. The devastation of a
nuclear conflict could far surpass anything ever experienced in past warfare. We are
faced with new challenges and opportunities, both for war and peace, that simply did not
exist a century ago, and we cannot expect to find applicable lessons in the wars of the
20th century for resolving many of today’s current or potential crises.
Yet, as a recent editorial in The Economist put it, there are troubling parallels between
the worlds of a century ago and today. There is a shifting global balance between a
declining hegemon (Britain then, the U.S. now) and new emerging powers (Germany
then, China now). There is an accelerating international arms race (today, including
nuclear proliferation). There is a region which is riven with strife and instability whose
problems the major powers seem unwilling or unable to resolve (the Balkans then, the
Middle East now). But, as The Economist aptly suggested, perhaps the most troubling
parallel is complacency. War in 1914 was widely anticipated to be so destructive that it
was considered extremely unlikely2.
The aim of the Group of 78 and Project Ploughshares in convening a conference on the
centenary of World War I is to bring together historians and others—from civil society,
the diplomatic and military communities—to reflect on the experiences of the “Great
War”. Historians will illuminate the discussion with the events preceding, during and
following the war. Others will seek to draw parallels and divergences between the world
of a century ago and that of today. In some ways World War I, despite its horrors and
devastation, also helped to improve the world (for example, through the spread of
democracy, and the spread of multilateral organizations culminating in the UN), so it is
important to recognize these achievements.
The conference will focus on the following themes:
Efforts to prevent war up to 1914
Technological innovation in WWI
Canada’s decision to go to war and its consequences
Canadian civil society and WWI
War on the home front
Ending the war, and the failure of peace
The emergence of multilateral diplomacy to deal with war and peace
Lessons from WWI for the long war on terror
While much of the conference will be focused on Canada’s role and Canadian
perspectives, this will be book-ended by more general and global themes. The
conference will feature up to three keynote speakers, and up to seven panels. Each
panel will be opened by a perspective from a historian and followed by perspectives from
civil society and the diplomatic and military communities. The non-historians will draw
out implications or insights for war and peace in our own time. There will be opportunity
for the audience to participate in the discussion. The organizers are particularly
committed to engaging youth in the conference.
2
21 December 2013
2
World War 1 and Contemporary Policy on War and Peace
Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, ON
26-28 September 2014
Introduction:
On the centenary of World War 1 The Group of 78 and Project Ploughshares are pleased to organize this
conference taking place at the Canadian War Museum to reflect, on the centenary of the outbreak of World
War 1, on whether and how policy-makers, diplomats, civil society and the armed forces today can help
reduce the incidence of armed conflict and reinforce the foundations of a more stable, peaceful world.
Historians will cast light on the events preceding, during and following the war. Others will draw attention
to how our world is similar, where it diverges, and the development of multilateral institutions and
international law to avoid war and build human security.
Our aim in convening this conference is to bring together historians and commentators from civil society,
the diplomatic and military communities to consider the “Great War” in relation to issues of contemporary
international peace and security. What can we learn from World War 1 to prevent armed conflict in our day,
strengthen the tools of diplomacy and peace-building, inhibit the innovation of increasingly destructive
weaponry, and reduce the stockpiles of costly weaponry?
There can be no greater tribute to those who suffered and died in World War 1 than to learn from their
experience, and strive for a more peaceful world.
Format of Sessions:
Each panel will open with a perspective from a historian followed by perspectives from representatives of
civil society and the diplomatic and military communities. The non-historians will draw out implications or
insights for war and peace in our own time. The Chair of each session will be encouraged to engage all of
the speakers in dialogue, with opportunity for the audience to participate in the discussion as well.
Acknowledgements – as of July 8, 2014
We acknowledge with thanks the support of Peace Quest and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of
Germany.
Preliminary Program
Page 1
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM – as of July 8, 2014
Friday 26 September 2014
Barney Danson Theatre, Canadian War Museum
1:00 – 1:30 pm Registration
1:30 – 2:00 pm Welcome, Introductions, Purpose and Format of the Conference
Opening Ceremony/Welcome
Andrew Burtch, Canadian War Museum
Richard Harmston, The Group of 78
John Siebert, Project Ploughshares
Albert Dumont, Algonquin elder
2:00 – 3:00 pm Keynote: Desmond Morton, World War I’s impact on the Canadian political fabric.
3:00 – 4:30 pm Panel Session 1
Themes:
Efforts to Stop the War
Was WW1 avoidable?
Have we learned anything about war prevention and conflict resolution?
Chair:
John De Chastelain
Historians:
Amy Shaw, Holger Afflerbach
Commentator: Ernie Regehr
4:30 – 4:45 pm Break
4:45 – 6:15 pm Panel Session 2
Innovations in War
Themes:
Could the proliferation of new lethal weapons of mass destruction have been
prevented? Has the machinery of arms control and disarmament improved?
Chair:
Louise Fréchette
Historian:
Mark Humphries
Commentators: John Siebert, Gordon Vachon
6:15 – 7:00 pm Witness – Canadian Art of the First World War and
Transformations – A. Y. Jackson & Otto Dix : CWM exhibits, a tour
Speakers:
Laura Brandon, Melanie Morin-Pelletier, Canadian War Museum
7:00 – 8:00 pm Dinner
8:00 – 9:30 pm Musical performance: Soldiers of Song: A tribute to the Dumbells
Saturday, 27 September 2014
Barney Danson Theatre, Canadian War Museum
8:30 – 9 am
Registration/ Coffee and Tea
9:00 – 10:00 am Keynote Speaker:
R. H. Thomson, Remembering WW1
Preliminary Program
Page 2
10:00 – 10:15 am Break
10:15 – 11:45 am Panel Session 3
Themes:
Civil Society and WW 1
How was the war fought – or resisted – on the home front?
What role can civil society play to strengthen peace and stability, and to end conflict?
Chair:
Metta Spencer
Historian:
Kara Dixon Vuic (tbc)
Commentator: Jamie Swift, Christian Strohal (tbc)
11:45 – 1:30 pm Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 pm Keynote: Ian MacKay Paradoxes of Vimy Ridge
1:30 – 3:00 pm Panel Session 4
Themes:
Memory and War
Was truth the first casualty of WW1, and must it always be thus?
Uses and abuses of information in war, censorship and propaganda, war history, generating
support for war
Chair:
Rt. Hon. Joe Clark (tbc)
Historian:
Jeff Keshen
Commentators: Nicole Schwartz-Morgan, Ira Basen
3:00 – 4:30 pm Panel Session 5
Ending the War, Failure of the Peace
Themes:
Why could WW1 not be ended sooner?
Chair:
Paul Heinbecker
Historians:
Walter Dorn, Mustafa Aksakal (tbc)
Commentators: Alistair Edgar
4:30 – 4:45 pm Break
4:45 – 5:45 pm Roundtable: What can we learn from WWI to make the 21st century a century of peace?
PUBLIC FORUM moderated by Michael Enright, CBC (tbc)
Christian Strohal, Holger Afflerbach, Mustafa Aksakal, plus two speakers from Canada (tbc)
5:45 – 6:15 pm Closing
Sunday, 28 September 2014
Atelier D, Canadian War Museum
9:00 – 10:30
Conference Summary Discussion and Wrap-up
Post conference
10:30 – 12:00
Atelier D, Canadian War Museum: Group of 78 Annual General Meeting (members only)
Evening event of interest (tickets available separately): 7:30 p.m. Concert at Southminster United Church:
W.A. Mozart, Requiem
Preliminary Program
Page 3
Conference Registration Form
Annual Policy Conference
September 26 - 28, 2014
Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, ON
World War 1 and Contemporary Policy on War and Peace
Please register by September 24, 2014
Name (s): ______________________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________Postal Code: ___________________
Telephone: (H) ____________________ (W) _____________________ Fax: _______________________
Email: ________________________________________________________________________________
Please indicate if you have any dietary restrictions: ____________________________________________
Participants are expected to cover their own costs relating to travel, meals and accommodation.
We are able to offer the following options:
Friday Sept. 27 Dinner with musical performance
by “Soldiers of Song”
Subtotal 1)
___ persons @ $75 = $ __________
• $75 per person
(dinner at 7:00 p.m.)
• $25 per person for performance only
(performance begins at 8:00 p.m.)
___ persons @ $25 = $ __________
Conference day program
Friday, Saturday and Sunday Sept. 26 - 28
(coffee / tea breaks, Saturday lunch, and
registration fee)
Subtotal 2)
___ persons @ $110 = $ __________
• $110 per person
• $190 per couple
• $35 per person student / unwaged rate
___ students @ $35 = $ __________
Subtotal 1)
$___________
one couple @ $190 = $ __________
Subtotal 2)
$ __________
TOTAL ENCLOSED
$ __________
Taxes and gratuities are included in the conference fees.
Please send your payment with this form to: Group of 78, 244-211 Bronson Ave., Ottawa, ON K1R 6H5
Refunds are available up to two weeks before the conference, minus an administration fee of $10.
Accommodation:
A limited number of hotel suites are available at two Ottawa hotels:
- The Cartier Place Suite Hotel, 180 Cooper St., 613-236-5000, conference rate $149 per night,
- Albert and Bay Suite Hotel, 435 Albert St. 613-238-8858, 1-800-2676644, conference rate $179 per night.
You may book these rooms directly with either hotel before August 26, 2013.
The cost of these rooms is not included in the conference registration prices.