The Tension Of Alliances During World War I

Although World War I began in Europe, specifically between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, the conflict spread across the globe. Prior to World War I Europe experienced persistent tension with its neighbors as the various nations strived to assert their place in the world. Distrust was felt widespread. The British and the Germans were in constant competition with each other with their construction of warships efforts. At the same time, the Balkan’s practice of revolutionary activities made peoples from Vienna to Constantinople nervous. As the armies and navies of Europe grew in might and strength, the need for alliances grew stronger. People also feared the German Empire as being the next possible aggressor. The need for alliances was renewed in order to contain aggression. The French and Russians wanted to contain the Germans, while the Germans and Austrians wanted to contain the Russians.
European powers involved themselves in tight knit systems of binding alliances as a means of maintain a balance of power. Alliances between nations fueled conflict and in turn conflict became more widespread than it would have been if obligations of allegiance did not exist. Alliances encouraged nations to be more aggressive than they would have been if they were standing alone. Nations entangled their allied nations into their own conflicts. This strategy of pinning of one group against another set into motion the perfect storm for war. The concept of alliances was not a bad strategy, on the surface. It had served as a great asset for less powerful nations in the past. Having a stronger more powerful nation back a weaker one, most often, prevents years of conflict. In the case of World War I it only pushed the world into further