2. Imperialism
The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial
acquisition or by the establishment of economic and
political hegemony over other nations.
Imperialism was one of the causes in World War One.
One of the factors that contributed to the increase of
challenge in Europe was imperialism. Great Britain,
Germany and France needed foreign markets after the
increase in manufacturing caused by the Industrial
Revolution. These countries were competitive for
economic expansion in Africa. Although Britain and
France resolved their differences in Africa, several crises
foreshadowing the war involved the clash of Germany
against Britain and France in North Africa. In the Middle
East, the crumbling Ottoman Empire was alluring to
Austria-Hungary, the Balkans and Russia..
3. Nationalism
The belief that nations will benefit from acting independently
rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than
international goals.
At the settlement of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the
principle of nationalism was ignored in favor of preserving the
peace. Germany and Italy were left as divided states, but
strong nationalist movements and revolutions led to the union
of Italy in 1861 and that of Germany in 1871. Another result of
the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 was that France was left
furious over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany, and
Revanche was a major goal of the French. Nationalism posed
a problem for Austria-Hungary and the Balkans, areas
comprised of many conflicting national groups. The ardent
Panslavism of Serbia and Russia's willingness to support its
Slavic brother conflicted with Austria-Hungary's
Pangermanism.
4. Militarism
Predominance of the armed forces in the administration or policy of
the state.
After the Franco-Prussian war all the European nations adopted the
German plan for universal military draft. Therefore by 1914 there were
just about three and a half million men in the standing armies and
millions more in the trained reserves.
Each nation, of course, claimed that it’s planning were only for
defensive purposes. Statesmen, too, were less willing to negotiate in
good faith as long as they felt they had some military might back of
them. But possibly the most dangerous effect was the frame of mind
this building up of weapons developed. Militarism tends to converse
an attitude of approval of war as an elevating, ennobling occupation.
In each country the aim was carefully to prepare the population,
physically and mentally, for the possibility of war.
As a result, when Serbia angered Austria, Austria determined to
punish Serbia, but then Russia backed Serbia, so apparently
threatening Austria. Austria wanted German support, while Russia, in
turn, invoked French aid, and finally Great Britain came to the support
of France. The wheels were turning and the world slipped mindlessly
into war, without regard to the awful consequences
5. Balance of Power
Distribution of power in which no single nation is
able to dominate or interfere with others
This expression goes back to the Cold War days
when the Soviet Union and USA had enough
missiles pointed at each other to destroy the world
many times over. The fact that one power never
had a distinct and obvious advantage over the
other meant that the balance of power tipped
neither one way nor the other but
remained...balanced. Now in a corporate
environment, where there are many more men in
positions of high authority, the balance of power is
firmly with the men.
