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The First World War was a human, economic and political catastrophe. It changed the map of Europe and led to further instability in the continent and around the globe. There has long been a debate about the exact cause of the First World War. Ultimately, German aggression and its attempts to secure a stronger strategic and military position in Europe led to the outbreak of the First World War.

==Colonial Tensions==

While Germany was in many ways the most powerful country in Continental Europe it lacked a large colonial Empire. The French and British Empires extended over large areas of the globe. Europe strategists at the time believed that only countries with a large colonial empires could survive and prosper and the German political elite were eager to secure more colonies.<ref>Lewiston, <i>German</i>', p. 54.</ref> German had some colonies in Africa and the Pacific Islands. This was not enough for German ambitions and they demanded more territories. Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Emperor, demanded that his country have its ‘place in the sun’. These demands led to increasing international tensions.

==Nationalism==

Most pre-war Europeans believed in the ‘cultural, economic and military supremacy of their nation’. They believed that their nation was entitled to dominate others and to have special privileges within the international system.<ref>Hew Strachan (2004). <i>The First World War</i>. Viking Publishers: New York, p. 34.</ref> Nationalism was deliberately inflamed by newspapers and politicians. This was used to secure the allegiance of the population to the existing political elite. In many European countries, the traditional elites, such as landowners, the aristocracy and monarchies were able to stay in power by ‘harnessing the emotive power of nationalism’.<ref>Wehler, Hans-Ulrich (1985). <i>The German Empire, 1871–1918</i>, Berg Publishers, 1985.</ref> This was particularly the case in Imperial Germany. Here the conservative elite, including the army and the aristocracy used nationalism to prevent the Social Democratic Party from assuming power in the country. However, Nationalism also created a scenario where countries viewed each other as their rivals and enemies. This meant that they were willing to go to war with their neighbors when there was a crisis in international relations in August 1914. <ref>Tuchman, Barbara, <i>The Guns of August</i>, New York. The Macmillan Company, 1962</ref>

==Conclusion==

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==Related DailyHistory.org Articles==

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