Paris 1919: Shaping Today's World

Professor Margaret MacMillan illuminates how decisions made at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 continue to shape today's geopolitical landscape, particularly in understanding current European conflicts including Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

• The Treaty of Versailles and related settlements redefined Europe through borders that still cause tensions today
• World War I was the war that made World War II possible, with unfinished business from 1919 leading to future conflicts
• Self-determination principles created challenges when applied to ethnically mixed regions of Central and Eastern Europe
• Personalities of leaders at Paris 1919 profoundly influenced outcomes, with Wilson, Clemenceau and Lloyd George negotiating for six months
• Germany's refusal to accept defeat and responsibility contributed more to future conflict than actual treaty terms
• Russia was excluded from Paris negotiations, reflecting a position of outsider status that continues today
• Yugoslavia's creation and eventual violent breakup stemmed directly from decisions made in 1919
• Current European security questions echo issues faced after both world wars about preventing future conflicts
• The 80-year European peace since WWII remains historically unusual given the continent's conflict-filled past
• Great powers today remain cautious about direct confrontation due to the potentially catastrophic consequences