How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of balance of power?

Introduction:

• The First World War (1914-1918) was a complex conflict, and while it had multiple causes, one of the central motivations was the desire of European powers to maintain or shift the balance of power in their favour.
• The balance of power refers to the distribution of military and economic strength among nations to prevent any one country from becoming too dominant.

First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of balance of power Arguments in Favour:

• Rival Alliances: alignment of major European powers into two blocks: the Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) driven by the need to counterbalance each other’s influence and prevent any one nation or group from dominating Europe.
• Imperial Rivalries:
  • Nations like Britain and Germany competed for global dominance, particularly in colonial territories.
  • Industrialisation -> need for Raw Material and Market -> race for colonies began. Ex.- Italy allied with Germany when it lost Tunisia to France
• The Rise of Germany:
  • Ex.- Germany’s rapid industrial and military rise after its unification in 1871 challenged the dominance of Britain and France, leading to tensions.
• Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans:
  • The decline of the Ottoman Empire created a power vacuum in the Balkans, with Austria-Hungary and Russia both seeking to expand their influence.
  • Ex.- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and the subsequent conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia (backed by Russia) exemplified the struggle to maintain a regional balance of power.
• Militarism: Competition for larger armies due to increased mistrust and enhanced rivalry. 
  • Ex.- German policy to strengthen Navy threatened Britain’s traditional naval superiority; Policy of Weld Politik

Arguments against:

While balance of power was a factor, there are also some counter Arguments

• Nationalism and Imperialism: 
  • Highly publicised after the French Revolution, especially due to the formation of Nation States who developed a sense of pride and superiority, engaged in active posturing.  
  • Concepts like Social Darwinism and extreme Nationalism emerged led to suspicion and mistrust.
• Economic Competition: between industrialised nations like Germany, Britain, and France who competed for global markets and resources.
• Internal Political Pressures: Domestic factors, such as political instability and the rise of militarism within nations. Leaders believed that victory in a major war would unify their populations and strengthen their political power.

Conclusion:

• While it is correct to argue that the First World War was fought largely to preserve the balance of power, it was not the sole cause. Nationalism, imperialism, economic rivalry, and domestic pressures all contributed to the outbreak of the conflict.
• However, the primary motive of major powers like Britain, France, and Germany was indeed to maintain or alter the European power structure, making the balance of power a central, though not exclusive, factor in the war.

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