Explain why events in the Balkans contributed to the growth of international tension in the years 1908 - 1914.

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Charlotte McKenna

Explain why events in the Balkans contributed to the growth of international tension in the years 1908 – 1914.

  It is difficult to comprehend how such a small area of the world, of Europe, could cause such tensions, and even, it could be argued, be responsible for the outbreak of World War One.

  Ruled by the Ottoman Empire, the collection of different races and religions which was collectively known as the Balkans began to rise up against their oppressive rulers due to increased tensions growing (aside from the usual between rulers and ruled) concerning ethnic rivalry. These risings got the attention of other major European countries, especially Russia and Austria – Hungary, who already had a history there. Russia supported the emancipation of the Balkans, being made up of similar ethnic people and a Pan - Slavist Movement vowing to unite all Slavs, many of whom lived in the Balkans. Yet Austria- Hungary did not wish to encourage the collapse of the Ottoman Empire as she feared her own empire, made up of smaller countries like the Ottoman Empire, would be influenced by these uprisings and would start to pursue their own bid for freedom, perhaps resulting in the collapse of their empire as well. This resulted in the eventual drifting apart of the two countries over the Balkans, which increased international tension to such an extent, that eventually the major European powers were forced into two opposing camps of three, centered around the tension between Russia and Austria - Hungary: the Triple Alliance, consisting of Germany, Austria – Hungary and Italy and the Triple Entente, consisting of Great Britain, France and Russia.

   

   All appeared to be settled in the Balkans up until 1908, but tensions between the opposing alliances mounted to a crescendo. Yet, surprisingly it was not the Balkans who were the catalyst in this saga – the tension building up between Great Britain and Germany since 1897 was steadily growing, widening the gap between alliances and making the possibility of reconciliation less likely. The ascendancy of Kaiser Wilhelm to the German throne resulted in a dramatic change of direction for German foreign policy: he decided to pursue a policy of gaining an Empire (Weltpolitik) and a navy (Flottenpolitik) to rival that of Great Britain’s. Being the possessor of the largest empire and navy in history, Great Britain saw this as a direct threat to their position as number one world power and caused tension between the two countries. The introduction of the German Navy Laws of 1897 was the catalyst of a long chain of events, setting in concrete perhaps the cementation of the two major alliances. The naval race began. Both countries competed to see who could build the largest army – Germany with the motive of overtaking Britain and forcing them into an alliance, and Britain with the aim of keeping their lead according to their two power standard. Great Britain’s advantage increased with the introduction of the Dreadnought rendering all other German and British ships obsolete. And Britain managed to maintain the lead the whole way through nearly a decade and a half of ship building, all that resulted from this German endeavor was the decline in relations between the countries, and Great Britain moving closer towards France as a formal ally.

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  The Balkans were far from done in causing international catastrophe, the 1908 Bosnian crisis risked pan – European warfare due to poor diplomacy on the part of the new aggressive Foreign Minister of Austria – Count Alexis Von Aehrenthal who was interested in pursuing an aggressive foreign policy against Russia by going against their pact to support each other’s bid to take over a country – Russia agreed to back Austria – Hungary’s bid for Bosnia while Austria – Hungary agreed to back Russia in Istanbul. But Austria – Hungary, when concern was expressed by France and Great Britain, ...

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