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abhatia · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 37

Could the alliances of Europe have prevented a war?

wlotas2013 · Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 20

No, the cause and affect of forging an alliance with another country that may not be on good terms with another country in your alliance creates too much tension. An example would be the hostility between Russian and Austria, which presented Germany with a decision that would shape their empire. With tensions between countries from past disputes, no one country can be allied with everyone, unless everyone sets aside their differences and reaches towards a common goal.

carolineskate · Joined: 17 Feb 2011 Posts: 13

The alliances of Europe could not have prevented a war. Even though there were many strong alliances within the European countries, tension was always a factor. I was thinking exactly what Warren said about cause and effect. There were so many complications in forming alliances, that one difference of opinion could make the big change in how another countries feels, leading to disputes. The relationships between the European countries were evidently very volatile, so just because two or three countries may have been allies with each other, there is still the issue of tension among others, resulting in disagreements, refusals of proposals, etc,, eventually leading to war.

pche2013 · Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 14

Could the alliances of Europe have prevented a war?

No. The alliances of Europe can't prevent the war. The alliances Bismarck built up was almost perfect theoretically, except the weakness of "Austria and Russia were potential enemies", which Bismarck made up by restraining the Austria. Also Frence was isolated because of the alliances.
However, things would never go perfetly. Since restraint doesn't mean fully controlled, the relationship between austria and Russia is like a time bomb, and as soon as the alience breaks, French would allience up with the contury which breaks out from allience with German. therefore, Europe divids up into two opponent alliences. The war is the inevitable result of the lost of the balance.
plus, even if everything works perfectly. The development of German economy and millitary power would make the rest of the European countries turn their attation on Germany.

mfaber · Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 8

I also agree that the alliances of Europe could not have prevented the war. When alliances are created certain loyalty is provided and when one country gets into conflict its allies are automatically pulled into the conflict aswell. Therefore, the allies do not have a say in wether war is declared or not because they follow who they are loyal to. Since Russian and French ties were so strong, when Germany declared war on Russia, France was pulled in immediatily and so was Britain. Germany was too confident in believing their side was stronger, as it turns out the other side of allies proved to be more powerful.

bella · Joined: 17 Feb 2011 Posts: 11

The alliances of Europe could not have prevented a war because that was not the purpose of the alliances that were in place when WWI began.

These alliances were created to prepare for war in one way or another. The reading talks of alliances forming because certain countries were afraid of attack, or wanted to attack. No alliances were created to keep things exactly as they are. The Triple entente formed to stand up against the threat of the Triple Aliance. neither formed with the main intention of preventing war. The alliances formed for protection, power, money, and land, not for peace.

The only way an alliance could prevent a war would be if it intimidated other countries out of attacking and then did not want to attack themselves.

operaman667 · Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 9

In my opinion, I don't think that the European allied powers could have prevented the war. Tensions were running high in Europe before 1914, and certain events, like the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, helped to escalate those tensions to a point of spiraling out of control. Also, the two hostile alliance systems in Europe also proved to be unfitting. They created an uneven balance of power distribution among the European countries. Since the relationships among the European countries were already turbulent, even a small spark could have set off a dangerous powder keg. Therefore, war was imminent.

stone · Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 5

I actually believe that the alliance system COULD have prevented the war ONLY IF every country had been outspoken about their attitudes toward each others. From our readings, it is apparent that Germany had taken gambles first on Russia's opinion towards regicide, then Great Britain's commitment to the triple entente, and finally the power of the United States...etc. What I mean is that, if Germany had known the outcomes of all their "gambles', it may not plunge itself into war so easily

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