starting at the conclusion of the French Revolution. People with similar ideologies and
cultures not only wanted to live together, they wanted their own sovereign state.
Nationalism posed a problem for Austria-Hungary. The Balkans, which comprised of
many conflicting national groups desired change. The intense “[Slavism]” (Martel,
Origins of the First World War, pp. 4-5) of Serbia and Russia's willingness to support its
Slavic brother conflicted with Austria-Hungary's “[Germanism]” (Ibid., p.4-5).
Imperialism could also be considered as another cause of the war. The Industrial
Revolution had created many new industries and products. Martel explains the nature of
Imperialism and explains the significance it has as a key ‘strategy’. “The late 19th
century was the great age of European dominance” (Martel, Origins of the First World
War, pp. 5). In order for these new businesses to grow and expand even more, new
foreign markets were sought after. Great Britain, France, and Germany, the three
European economic powers, were in constant competition for new markets. Their
principal targets were usually in Africa. On a few occasions late in the 19th century and
early in the 20th century, the “three powers [came close] to war” (Martel, Origins. Pp. 5-
6) over disputed markets. Despite Africa, the crumbling Ottoman Empire was a
promising economic outlook and no doubt was alluring to Austria-Hungary, the Balkans
and Russia.
Militarism was another cause of hostile relations. Due to extreme nationalistic
attitudes of neighboring states and to protect economic interests nations kept ‘large
armies’(Martel, Origins. Pp. 5-6) that were in constant readiness to go to war. ‘Large
navies’ (Martel, Origins. Pp. 5-6) were used to protect ‘the sea’s’ and shipping routes
from jealous states. The arms race heightened already strained tensions on the European
continent. Armies and navies were greatly expanded. “[Their was] a popular tide of
warlike enthusiasm among the people…” (Martel, Origins. pp 5) The standing
‘armies of France and Germany’ [doubled in size] (Martel, Origins. pp. 5) between 1870
and 1914. Martel explains the war enthusiasm, and the fact that, Naval expansion was
also extremely competitive, particularly between Germany and Great Britain. By 1889,
the British had established the principle that in order to maintain naval superiority in the
event of war they would have to have a navy two and a half times as large as the second-
largest navy. In order to keep from being in an isolated position in case war did erupt,
nations formed alliances with one another for protection of their respective values, beliefs
and ideologies. This was the basis of creating the “triple alliance: Austria-Hungary,
Germany, and later on Italy” (Martel, Origins. pp. 3, 12, 14) and the “Triple Entente
(Great Britain, France and Russia)” (Ibid., p. 3, 12, 14). These alliances ultimately
caused conflict to escalate that constantly rivaled until the end of the summer of 1918.
Europe had reached its breaking point on June 28, 1914, when Archduke Francis
Ferdinand, “heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia,
by a Serbian nationalist belonging to an organization known as the Black Hand.” (Martel,
Origins. pp. 1-2). Immediately following the assassination Germany pledged it’s full
support ‘[the blank check]’(Martel. Origins. pp. 2) to Austria-Hungary, pressuring them
to declare war on Serbia. From their, the powers started to mass mobilize and prepare for
what was going to be the “Great War”. The “German invasion [of Belgium to attack
France Schlieffen plan, which violated Belgium's official neutrality], prompted Britain to
declare war on Germany” (Martel. Origins pp.12), was one such complicated plan that
drew more countries into war than Necessary and cost Germany the first battle of the war.
Germany was asked when they lost the Moroccan Crisis, “Is Germany going to be the
‘anvil’ or ‘hammer’ in world politics?” (Martel, Origins. pp. 11). This certainly opened a
hot debate of, Germany’s global domination and their ‘guilty’ part in the war.
Through examination of the causes of WWI, it becomes evident that they were
both general and specific. Martel carefully analyzes the strategic but devastating Origins
of World War 1, that led him to the conclusion that, “[Nationalism coupled with idealistic
militarism left no choice but war]” (Martel. Origins pp.13). It was the actions of a few
that shaped the nature of the war. Better diplomatic decisions on the part of any of the
great powers, particularly Germany or Britain, could have both considerably reduced the
severity and greatly altered the outcome of WWI.
