The Responsibility of the Arms Race or the Alliance System for the Outbreak of War in 1914

The Responsibility of the Arms Race or the Alliance System for the Outbreak of War in 1914

No justification of the commencement of war in 1914 can completely

avoid considering acutely the nature and the concoction of the

alliance system and the arms race. The coalitions that had initially

served the cause of serenity, almost instinctively helped maneuver a

domesticated altercation into being a universal war. Accordingly the

precariousness of the arms race and the pre-war alliances make them

primary instigators of World War I.

The alliance system was originally premeditated by Germany to deter

the initiation of war. As a secondary aspiration came the alienation

of France from the major powers of Europe. In order to certify that

the establishment of any European equilibrium setting was in favor of

Germany, Otto Von Bismarck allied with two of the great powers of

Europe(www.ibhistory.com). Through a series of treaties, diplomatic

arrangements and manipulative techniques, Bismarck unknowingly set up

the fundamental provisions for the upsurge of war. Ultimately the

alliances meant that conflict between any two nations in Europe would

require the involvement of many more. The alliance system essentially

fabricated tension and generated fear amongst the great powers of

Europe. Michael Howard stresses this same point, saying that arms race

and the alliance system were a “major source of friction prior to the

war”.

In addition the pre-existing tension between the Austro-Hungarian

Empire and Russia proved to be a supplementary justification for the

intensification of friction with in European alliances

(www.ibhistory.com). Russia and Austria-Hungary grew apprehensive

towards each other pertaining to the divergences in the Balkans in

1887. Bismarck found it difficult to deter any elemental variances

from occurring. After having experienced a considerable political

estrangement , France’s opportunity had arrived. Thus the Franco-

Prussian Entente was formed in 1891. Moreover the Kruger telegram

sent by William II to congratulate the Boers for overpowering the

British in 1896 and also the large- scale navy that was under

construction both contributed to Britain’s reservations towards