- European powers engaged in a series of arms buildup, each trying to outdo the other.
- Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia competed to have the largest and most powerful armies and navies.
- Britain focused on building up its Royal Navy.
- Countries invested heavily in developing new weapons and technologies, including battleships, submarines, machine guns, artillery, and aircraft.
2. Alliances and Ententes
- Germany was allied with Austria-Hungary and Italy
- France was allied with Russia.
- Britain had an informal understanding with France (Entente Cordiale)
- These alliances created a sense of security and confidence, while at the same time stoking competition and increasing tensions and suspicion among the major powers.
3. Imperial Expansion
-European powers competed for colonies and influence in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
-Competition for imperial territories further exacerbated national rivalries and mistrust
4. Militaristic Culture
- Glorification of the military:
Many European countries embraced militarism, viewing a strong military as a source of national pride and a symbol of strength.
- Aggressive Nationalism: Growing nationalist sentiments contributed to a willingness to use military force.
5. Inadequate Diplomatic Mechanisms
- Lack of clear communication, failure of diplomacy to resolve peacefully the various political rivalries and conflicting interests among European nations allowed crises like the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 to spiral out of control into a full-scale conflict.