POLI 244 Chapter OUP 260: Poli 244 - OUP Reasons for the World Wars
5 Dec 2017
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The rise of germany sparked dissatisfaction and apprehension from other great powers and triggered the need for balancing. The system of alliances made the dissatisfied france and russia ally, which in return stirred the mistrust of germany against russia. Germany did not manage to tie gb closer and gb also entered the entente. This system dragged states into war, even though they had no direct interest in a conflict. Russia and austria-hungary were falling and thus were willing to risk anything to hold on to their internal cohesion. The new competition added pressure to the states. Especially the ottoman empire and austria-hungary were alarmed by the separatist movements inside their countries and encouraged movements in neighboring empires, hoping to make political gains. Clashes over colonial areas caused clashes among great powers. States expected that the first-strike advantage would account for a win (cult of offensive), which influenced military strategies (schlieffen plan).
