Explanations for World War One

Question 1

Individual-level explanations

Answer 1

Anachronistic leaders, leaders’ characteristics.

Question 2

“Anachronistic leaders” is an example of?

Answer 2

An individual-level explanation.

Question 3

Anachronistic leaders

Answer 3

• Out of touch with times and people.
• Remnants of the old imperial system.
• Dedicated to preserving their rule and lineage as opposed to their nation’s security.
• Did not understand the impact of technology, industrialisation, nationalism or popular opinion.

Question 4

“Leaders’ characteristics” is an example of?

Answer 4

An individual-level explanation.

Question 5

Leaders’ characteristics

Answer 5

• German General Helmuth von Moltke’s fear of Russia.
• Austrian Field Marshal Conrad von Hotzendorff’s hawkish views of Serbia.
• British Foreign Minister Edward Grey’s indecision.
• Russian Tsar Nicholas II’s vacillation and belligerence.

Question 6

Unit-level explanations

Answer 6

Aggressive states, weak states, Lenin’s theory of imperialism, international arms manufacturers, nationalism.

Question 7

“Aggressive states” is an example of?

Answer 7

A unit-level explanation.

Question 8

Aggressive states

Answer 8

• Germany started the war to prevent Russia from gaining too much power and threatening German security.
• German colonial ambitions.
• German desire to become a world power.
• Intensifying German nationalism.

Question 9

“Weak states” is an example of?

Answer 9

A unit-level explanation.

Question 10

Weak states

Answer 10

• Austria-Hungary’s national and ethnic troubles following the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867 which gave power to Austrians and Hungarians over other ethnicities in the region.
• Slavs thus demanded independence, backed by Serbia and Russia.
• Russian public’s distrust of the Russian government following military defeat to Japan.

Question 11

“Lenin’s theory of imperialism” is an example of?

Answer 11

A unit-level explanation.

Question 12

Lenin’s theory of imperialism

Answer 12

• As strains in capitalist societies grow, they seek to ease tensions by economic imperialism.
• Investment in cheap labour abroad, raw materials, export markets, etc.
• States become aggressive when they realise there is not much left to colonise.

Question 13

“International arms manufacturers” is an example of?

Answer 13

A unit-level explanation.

Question 14

International arms manufacturers

Answer 14

Desperate to sell to anyone and anywhere enabled arms races and public fear.

Question 15

“Nationalism” is an example of?

Answer 15

A unit-level explanation.

Question 16

Nationalism

Answer 16

• A background factor in producing a hostile atmosphere.
• Slavic nationalism threatened Austria-Hungary.
• Russian nationalism pressured the Tsar to aid Serbia.
• French nationalism demanded German return of Alsace and Lorraine.
• Nationalism rallied citizens around the leaders when war came.

Question 17

Global systems-level explanations

Answer 17

Changing distributions of power, systems overload, technological change.

Question 18

“Changing distributions of power” is an example of?

Answer 18

A global systems-level explanation.

Question 19

Changing distributions of power

Answer 19

• Growing German industrial, military and economic might sparked fear in neighbours France, Britain and Russia.
• Led to arms races and alliances.
• The retreat of Ottoman Turkey from Balkans was a void both Russia and Austria-Hungary wished to fill.

Question 20

“Systems overload” is an example of?

Answer 20

A global systems-level explanation.

Question 21

Systems overload

Answer 21

• Changing times and power distributions overwhelmed leaders.
• Expectations about the world were no longer correct; thus, they felt threatened and vulnerable.
• The assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo caused leaders to have a nervous breakdown.

Question 22

“Technological change” is an example of?

Answer 22

A global systems-level explanation.

Question 23

Technological change

Answer 23

• The inability of statesmen/generals to understand its significance.
• Removal of authority from statesmen to generals after military mobilisation.
• When generals do not understand technological change, they prepare for the wrong kind of war (they put a premium on attacking first).