LESSONS 2, 3 AND 4 THE GREAT POWERS, ALLIANCE SYSTEM AND THE JULY CRISIS AND MILITARISM

A widely held view in explaining the build-up and subsequent outbreak of war in 1914 is the militarisation of Europe and/or military mind-set of the Great Powers.  However, it is always useful to consider an alternative view which questions this sense of inevitability. Always considering alternative views is essential when writing your essays.

An alternative view could be articulated this way:  if the international system was so militarised, why did a general European war not break out much earlier? After all, the 44 years of great power peace between 1871 and 1914 was the longest period of great power peace in Europe until the end of the Cold War. 

Why were so many crises, resolved without recourse to war?  Why was peace maintained for over four decades? 

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