As we reach 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War, how will the way we commemorate this period in history change? Sam Walter, from the Ideas Lab Predictor Podcast, talks to Dr Jonathan Boff, Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Birmingham and member of the Centre for War Studies.

Jonathan explains the significance of WWI and its future commemoration: ‘Precisely because it is complicated and confusing and difficult, and there are conflicting interpretations of it, we are unlikely to achieve the same level of closure about it as for example about the Napoleonic wars.’ Just how will our commemoration of the First World War look in 50 years’ time?

The Birmingham Great War Centenary Lecture Series is open to the public. The 2014 lectures focus on ‘Roads to War’ and run from 28 January 2014.

A transcript of the podcast is also available [45.5KB, word .doc]