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Alliances and Diplomacy

Triple Alliance vs. Triple Entente

Bernadotte Schmitt

Alliances were meant for peace, but eventually

exacerbated the local quarrel into a general war

A.J.P. Taylor

Alliances were so precarious and fragile that theycannot be seen as a major cause of the war

Formal alliances did not guarantee support for war (Italyremained neutral after Germany and Austria declaredwar)

Britain had no binding alliance and declared war

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Alliances and Diplomacy

James Joll

No Euro power really accepted that the alliancesystem consisted of two firm and balanced blocs

No major Euro power subscribed to the idea thatthe alliance system was a complete deterrent againstwar

Pre-1914 alliance system was fragile, but did

not make war inevitableRaised expectations about likely allies in a futurewar and influenced the military plans of each power

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Militarism, Armaments, and

War Plans

Michael HowardEurope was an armed camp between 1870 and 1914

Announcements of increased armaments expenditure wasviewed as a threat by other Euro powers

Created atmosphere of mutual fear and suspicion

Frank McDonough suggests this is superficiallyattractive to historians

Austria spent the least amount on armaments (1.9% of

GDP)and was determined to go to war with Serbia

Niall FergusonGrowth in military expenditure leading to war is greatlyexaggerated

Britain had the highest expense (4.9% GDP) and was the last

Euro power that wanted war

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Militarism, Armaments, and

War Plans

Balance of power during the July Crisis had a

greater impact upon the causes of WWI

L.F.C. Turner

Austria argued for a preventative war to weaken

Serbia

Germany felt that Russia and France were growing

in military strength and thus wanted to fight a war

with them sooner rather than later

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Militarism, Armaments, and

War Plans

Strategic fears were closely linked to militaryaims and plans

A.J.P. Taylor

Outbreak of WWI caused almost entirely by rivalplans for mobilization by the European powers

All Euro powers had developed military plans in thecase of a war

Swift mobilization and lightning attacksNot particularly influential among the TripleEntente, but more so among Germany and Austria-Hungary

Military planners had a decisive influence over foreign

policy

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Nationalism

MartelA clash between Slav nationalism and the multi-ethnicAustro-Hungarian Empire

A struggle for mastery within the Balkans

WWI was fought for the future of central and eastern Europe

The level of fear and emotion that Slavnationalism caused in Austria-Hungary shouldnot be underestimated

Caused them to offer up an ultimatum to Serbia that had tobacked by war

Joachim RemakAustria-Hungary and Serbia started a 3rd Balkan War anddragged all of Europe into war by activating their alliances

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Nationalism

John Leslie

Refutes the importance of an Austro-Serb quarrel

Austria-Hungary used the assassination of

Ferdinand as an excuse to settle accounts withSerbia, and asked Germany to prevent Russianintervention

Germany saw the war with Serbia as secondary tothe struggle with Russia

July Crisis- Kaiser virtually commanded Austria-Hungary to set aside its anger against Serbia and todeploy the major portion of its troops against Russia

Blame is squarely pointed at Germany, not Austria-Hungary

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Marxist-Leninist View

The role of imperialism and economic factors

Vladimir Lenin

Imperialism: the highest stage of capitalism

WWI was the direct consequence of imperial rivalryamong the Euro superpowers

German monopoly capital was the driving force of foreignpolicy

Primary goal was to gain territory denied them during the

New ImperialismForeign policies of the major powers were afunction of capitalist businessmen

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Marxist-Leninist View

Konne Zilliacus

Europe went to war to defend imperialist interestswhich consisted of the private interests of finance

and monopoly capitalMarxist-Leninist view never became anexcepted interpretation among traditionalhistorians

Evidence that supports the idea of capitalistbusinessmen driving the foreign policy of a nation ishard to find

Although, a strong industrial economy did provevital to a successful foreign policy in the 20th century

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Modern Economic

Considerations

Paul Kennedy

Economic interests are a key reality behinddiplomacy

Carl Stirkwerda

German industrialists saw no need for warin order to dominate the industries of

EuropeIndustrialists were not the driving force forwar, but politicians were

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Conclusion

Power-political considerations caused WWI

Alliances, military plans and military strength

Not the modern-day desire for a mutually beneficial

economic environment

Economic cooperation had very little influence at all in

eastern Europe (where the July Crisis erupted)

Euro powers had adopted protectionism

A better insurance against economic depression in pre-WarI Europe